Molloy University Athletics

Box Score ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Dec. 9, 2014) - The Molloy College men's basketball squad remained in Tuesday night's non-conference contest, but ultimately fell to Bentley University, 99-92, thus ending a four-game win streak. The Lions drop to 6-2 on the season, while the Falcons are now 4-5 on the year.
 
The Lions' junior guard Brandon Williams (Baldwin, N.Y.) tallied his third 20-point performance of the season with a team-high 24 points. He was a perfect 9-9 from the foul line, and dished out five assists to just one turnover.
 
Sophomore forward Charlie Marquardt (Rockaway Beach, N.Y.) connected on six three-pointers to contribute to his 22-point outing, which was a season-high performance. He also grabbed six boards and registered a game-high four steals. Sophomore guard Jaylen Morris (Amherst, N.Y.) had 17 points, while senior guard Matt McLeod (Greenlawn, N.Y.) chipped in with 13 points.
 
Keegan Hyland led Bentley with a game-high 28 points and nine rebounds. Tyler McFarland had a double-double with 25 points and 10 rebounds.
 
As a team, the Falcons outshot the Lions 60.3% to 50.7% from the field. Bentley also converted on 46.2% of three pointers, while Molloy College only hit 34.5% of theirs. The Lions were 14-16 from the charity stripe, but due to foul trouble (24-15), the Falcons went to the line 32 times, hitting 23 of them (71.9%). Bentley had the advantage on the glass, 36-27.
 
This was the most points the Lions have scored since a 92-83 home win against St. Thomas Aquainas College on February 15, 2014. It was also the most points the Lions have given up since an 111-72 loss versus Daemen on February 7, 2014.
 
After trading three-pointers to start the contest, the Falcons would start on a 6-0 run to lead 9-3 just two minutes in. Up already by three points, Bentley went on another 6-0 run to lead 16-7, forcing Molloy to call a timeout just 5:16 into the game.
 
A little under seven minutes into the half, a collision underneath the basket between Marquardt and Falcons' J.P. Koury forced both to leave the hardwood. Marquardt would later return in the half and prove to be a difference maker. Koury did not re-enter.
 
Bentley, in complete control, received back-to-back Alex Furness layups to give the Falcons a 16-point lead with under 9:00 left in the first, their largest in the half, 30-14. A steal in their own backcourt turned into a Morris bucket, cutting the deficit to 10 points for the Lions. Bentley would then call a timeout.
 
Two-straight three pointers by Marquardt brought the Lions within four points with under three minutes remaining in the first frame.
 
With the final seconds waning, Williams went coast-to-coast for the three-point play the old-fashioned way as the junior was fouled on the shot. The first half ended 49-42 in favor of Bentley.

The teams would trade buckets early in the second half, with Bentley still holding the lead. The Falcons' Shaq Phelps hit a bucket, then converted on the and-1 to go up 72-57 less than seven minutes into the half. A jumper by Hyland brought the lead back to 16, which would be the largest deficit for the Lions.
 
However, the Lions stayed in the contest and chipped away at the lead. Morris' steal and then dunk with nine minutes remaining brought life amongst the Lions' Den, and chipped into the Bentley-lead, 82-70. A Williams trey helped him eclipse the 20-point plateau with 22 points -- just a 10-point disadvantage for the Lions, 87-77 (7:13 remaining). Morris hit a three-pointer followed by a bucket on the next possession, bringing the Lions within nine points with 5:39 to go.
 
The Lions continued to claw their way back in the game. With less than three minutes remaining in the contest, another steal led to a two-handed slam by Morris. Marquardt's three-pointer brought the score to just six points, 95-89 with 1:50 left.
 
Following Bentley free throws, with 36.5 seconds left, an NBA-range three-pointer by Marquardt brought the game back to two possessions, 98-92. But a Chris Murray free throw iced the game as the Lions fell to the Falcons, 99-92.
 
Next up for Head Coach Charles Marquardt and his squad is a road trip to upstate New York. The Lions will face East Coast Conference-foe Daemen College at 8 p.m. Friday night. They will follow that up with a road-contest at Roberts Wesleyan College on Saturday at 4 p.m.