Box Score ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Jan. 30, 2014) - Despite getting off to a slow start on Thursday night, Molloy College senior forward
John Petrucelli (Hicksville, N.Y.) finished with a near triple-double of 19 points, 11 rebounds and seven steals, in the Lions' 68-58 East Coast Conference-victory over the University of Bridgeport at Quealy Gymnasium. As a team, Molloy recorded a total of 17 steals. Sophomore guard
Brandon Williams (Baldwin, N.Y.) came up huge for the Lions as he notched 17 points off the bench. With the victory, Molloy improved to 11-8 overall and 8-3 in the league, while Bridgeport fell to 8-9 on the season and 6-5 in conference play.
Bridgeport jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead to start the first half. Molloy was able to tie the score six minutes shortly after that at 8-8 on a jumper by Petrucelli. The Lions grabbed their first lead of the contest two minutes later when sophomore forward
Chucks Obunse (Saint Albans, N.Y.) scored a lay-up. Obunse, who received his first start in a Molloy uniform tonight, had six of the team's first 10 points. Following Obunse's lay-up, the Lions netted seven straight points, bringing their unanswered burst to a 9-0 run. Throughout the rest of the period, the Purple Knights couldn't cut their deficit lower than two points. The two clubs headed to the locker rooms at halftime with Molloy ahead, 24-21.
To open the second half, both teams traded a pair of one-point leads, sending the contest into a see-saw tempo. Bridgeport then grabbed a six-point lead, before Molloy scored six consecutive to tie the game at 32-all. The 9:37 mark of the second stanza would be the final time Bridgeport held the advantage in the game. Following a three-ball from Bridgeport's JoJo Swift, Petrucelli made both of his free throws to tie the game at 44-44. The Lions never looked back from that point on as Petrucelli's two free throws started a 15-0 run that helped seal the win for Coach Marquardt's crew.
For Molloy, Obunse finished with nine points, six rebounds and two blocks, while junior forward
Richard Zoller (Syosset, N.Y.) had a very productive game off the bench as he recorded eight points, five boards, one block and one steal.
Ivan Simic, Sean Berry and Swift all had 15 points for the Purple Knights, while Berry notched a double-double with a whopping 19 rebounds.
HIGHWAY ROBBERY: Petrucelli's seven steals tonight was two off from tying the school record ... Michael Johnson's nine steals versus Dowling College on 1/17/09 holds that record.
UP NEXT: Head Coach
Charles Marquardt and the Lions return to action on Saturday, Feb. 1 when they take on Dowling College at 3 p.m. in Oakdale, N.Y. LiveStats and a video webcast will be available at www.MolloyLions.com.
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