Men’s Basketball Drops ECC Matchup to LIU Post, 64-58

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Box Score BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Feb. 26, 2014) – The Molloy College men's basketball team was unable to capitalize on LIU Post's poor second-half shooting Wednesday night, losing to the Pioneers at the Pratt Recreation Center, 64-58. With the loss, the Lions fell to 15-12 on the season and 12-7 in the East Coast Conference. The Pioneers improved to 17-10 overall and 12-7 in the league. The two teams are now tied for the third seed in the ECC playoffs.

Molloy kept pace with LIU Post early in the first half. The Pioneers jumped out to a five-point lead within the first four minutes of play. But the Lions quickly closed the gap, tying the game on a layup by senior forward John Petrucelli (Hicksville, N.Y.) at the 14:31 mark. Unfortunately, Molloy's sharpshooters then went cold, sinking only six of 25 first-half attempts. On the other end of the court, LIU Post shot 44.8% from the floor, giving the Pioneers a comfortable 10-point lead at halftime.

Molloy turned the tables around right from the start of the second stanza. The Lions scored the first 12 points of the half, with four different players contributing baskets. The Pioneers went quiet, unable to find their rhythm in the first few minutes of play. They hit their first field goal of the half at the 14:49 mark.

But the Lions were unable to convert this momentum into a large lead. A jumper by Petrucelli at the 10:19 mark put Molloy up by five, but it was the greatest advantage the Lions would hold. Less than two minutes later, LIU Post tied the game on a made free throw by Dillon Burns, and went up for good on a fastbreak layup by Isiah Stokley with 7:32 left to play. The Pioneers controlled the lead for the rest of the game, on their way to the 64-58 victory.

Petrucelli finished the game with 21 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and five steals for Molloy. His 21 points tonight brings his career total to 1,963 -- 37 points from the elite 2,000 club. Junior guard Matt McLeod (Greenlawn, N.Y.) contributed 11 points, 11 boards (all defensive), two assists, two blocks, and two steals.

P.J. Torres scored 13 points and added seven rebounds and three assists for LIU Post.

UP NEXT: Head Coach Charles Marquardt and the Lions will travel to Old Westbury, N.Y. to take on the New York Institute of Technology in an East Coast Conference–matchup on Saturday, March 1. The opening tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. LiveStats and a video webcast will be available through www.MolloyLions.com.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter: @MolloyLions | Facebook: Molloy College Athletics | YouTube: Molloy Lions

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Men’s Basketball Drops ECC Matchup to LIU Post, 64-58