After his team’s victory over St. Frances Friday evening, Mount St. Joseph basketball coach Pat Clatchey compared the game to windshield wipers.

“Some teams like to go fast pace,” said Clatchey. “We can do that but sometimes we have to go intermittent.”

In the most anticipated game of the regular season to date, the No. 1 Gaels were steady in a 62-59 decision over the second-ranked Panthers inside a packed Phelps Gym in East Baltimore. The senior backcourt of Austin Abrams and Ace Valentine each scored 15 points for the Gaels (14-2 overall), and forward Tyonne Farrell added 12.

The reigning Baltimore Catholic League and MIAA A Conference champs grinded over the final eight minutes to remain undefeated in Baltimore Catholic League play (4-0). Mount St. Joseph (2-0 MIAA A Red) has won 21 straight rdecisions, including postseason play against area teams, dating back to last regular season.

The Gaels weathered St. Frances guard Jahnathan Lamothe’s desperation 3-pointer before the final buzzer before celebrating their first victory on the Panthers’ hardwood since 2016.

“Best rivalry in Baltimore basketball,” said Clatchey. “The basketball community comes out…hard fought one possession game. I think St. Frances perimeter guys are really talented and pose problems defensively…We made enough plays down the stretch.”

“The first half we had no energy honestly,” said Abrams, who pulled down six rebounds. “We knew we had to play harder in the second half and picked it up on defense.”

Abrams, who will play for Stonehill University next season, converted a 3-point play off a Farrell down court outlet pass, putting Mount St. Joseph ahead for good, 52-51, with 4:34 left in regulation. After a St. Frances miss, Valentine dropped a 3-pointer, extending the lead to 55-51.

Valentine (4 assists and 3 rebounds), an UMBC recruit, found Brashawn Galloway, who stuck a jumper from the corner, for a 57-53 advantage with 2:55 to play. Carlton Carrington answered with a 3-pointer from the top of the arc, bringing St. Frances to within 57-56.

The Panthers (9-7, 3-1 MIAA A Black, 5-1 BCL) had a chance to take the lead after Valentine missed at the basket, but Ferrell came up with a steal and was fouled. He made one of two free throws for a 58-56 Mount St. Joseph lead with 1:31 left in regulation. Farrell pulled down a defensive rebound with 23 seconds left, leading to two free throws from Galloway with 17.6 seconds to play for a 60-56 advantage. After St. Frances hit a 3-pointer to make it 60-59, Ferrell calmly converted two free throws with 5.4 seconds remaining.

Since joining the Gaels before their late season championship run last year, Farrell, 6-foot-7, has been a constant on both ends of the court.

“He does a lot of things and we kind of feed off his energy,” said Clatchey. “He’s obviously a key part of the team.”

Farrell, who added 5 rebounds and 3 assists, said he wasn’t nervous about playing for the first time in the rivalry that has defined Baltimore basketball for a decade.

“Coach (Clatchey) believes in me and expects me to have an impact,” said Farrell, who connected on two 3-pointers, helping Mount St. Joseph established an 11-5 advantage inside the opening four minutes Friday. “I tried to be the best at what I do.”

Carrington, who’s headed to Pittsburgh, finished with a game-high 18 points for the Panthers, and Jackson and Joede Lebane each added 11. St. Frances led 51-49 with 5 minutes left in regulation after Mebane scored off a pass from Carrington (5 rebounds and 5 assists).

Jackson dropped a 3-pointer, pulling the Panthers to 60-59 with seven seconds left. After Farrell’s free throws made it a 3-point match with 5.4 seconds, Lamothe put up an off-balance 3-point attempt over the outstretched arms of the Gaels’ Amani Hansberry (10 points and 14 rebounds).

The ball, headed away from the basket, was knocked away by Farrell as time expired.

St. Frances coach Nick Myles said his team didn’t shoot well enough to win Friday.

“We’ve been playing so well but we had a bad shooting night,” Myles said. “It happens sometimes. I’d rather have it happen now than in February or March. We played the game at their pace. A game in the 70s or 80s is our pace, and a game in the 50s or 60s is their pace.”

Last season, St. Frances knocked off Mount St. Joseph in the two regular season meetings before the Gaels claimed victory in the BCL Tournament final at Loyola University.

The teams will get together again next month in South Baltimore.

“It’s a rivalry, they’ve played some nationally ranked teams and we’ve played some ‘s adds to the hype,” said Abrams. “It’s fun and competitive. We all know each other.”

NO. 1 MOUNT ST. JOSEPH 62, NO. 2 ST. FRANCES 59

Mount St. Joseph - Abrams 15, Valentine 15, Farrell 12, Hansberry 10, Galloway 7, Wingfield 3. Totals 23 11-15 62.

St. Francves - Carrington 18, Jackson 11, Mebane 11 Lamothe 10, Downs 6, Baldwin 3. Totals: 22 7-10 59.

Mount St. Joseph 20 8 17 17 - 62

St. Frances 16 8 20 15 - 59