Box Score SPARKILL, N.Y. (Nov. 15, 2014) - The Molloy College men's basketball team trailed most of its season-opening contest on Saturday, but ultimately came back to grab a 59-57 victory against Pace University. The Lions begin their season 1-0, while the Setters are now 0-2 on the 2014-15 campaign. This neutral site game was the first of the St. Thomas Aquinas Classic in Sparkill, N.Y.
Off the bench for Molloy, junior
Maurice Gatson (New York, N.Y.) led his squad with 13 points, while junior
Brandon Williams (Baldwin, N.Y.) had 12 points, and senior
Matt McLeod (Greenlawn, N.Y.) buried 10 points. Sophomore
Charlie Marquardt (Rockaway Beach, N.Y.), the team's leader in three-point percentage last year, hit three treys for nine points. Senior
Miles Prendergast (Bayport, N.Y.) led his team with six rebounds, while also scoring six points.
As a team, the Lions shot 34.9% from the field and 31.8% from deep range. The Setters hit 46.8% of their shots, while converting on 33.3% of three-balls. Molloy made the most of Pace's mistakes scoring 23 points off of 23 Setter turnovers. They also scored 22 points off the bench. The Lions were outrebounded 42-29, while the Setters' guard Shelton Mickel led all scorers with 16 points.
From the start, the Lions would have trouble scoring, trailing 8-2 at the 16:16 mark of the first half. A Mickel layup at 13:41 put Pace ahead, 18-4, which would be the Setters' largest lead of the contest. Three straight buckets by Gatson, one which was from downtown, cut the Molloy deficit to 20-11.
A 14-0 run capped by a Prendergast layup put Molloy ahead for the first time in the contest, 25-24, with 4:49 remaining in the half. Pace would go up 30-28 as the teams went into the locker room for halftime.
As a team, Pace shot 55.0% through the first 20 minutes, yet committed 17 turnovers. The Lions were shooting 34.4% and registered six steals.
At the start of the second half, the Setters would control the pace, up by 11 points five minutes in. A Lions' 6-0 run, including a Marquardt three-ball, brought Molloy to within five points with 11:23 left.
Williams' layup with less than four minutes to play put the Lions up 52-51 in the contest. Molloy's largest lead came with 2:30 remaining in the game when they led, 56-52. A Williams' free throw, and a basket from sophomore
Jaylen Morris (Amherst, N.Y.) put the Setters away for good.
Tonight, Molloy Head Coach
Charles Marquardt earned his 213th career victory in his 21st season. The Lions will have a quick turnaround with another neutral-site matchup against Saint Michael's College tomorrow at 4 p.m. The Purple Knights are coming off one of their most successful seasons in 13 years. They posted an 18-9 overall mark and a 13-8 record in the Northeast-10 Conference, and are projected to finish second in the Northeast Division as was released by the NE-10 preseason poll.
