Molloy University Athletics

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Dec. 16, 2015) – Through two East Coast Conference contests, the Molloy College men's basketball team has had its fair share of highs and lows with two close games ending in a one-point win and a two-point loss. The Lions will look to get back to their winning ways on Wednesday (Dec. 16) when the team travels to Washington, D.C. for a date with the Firebird of the University of the District of Columbia at 5 p.m.

The Lowdown on the Lions
It was a difficult defeat to swallow for the maroon and white on Saturday (Dec. 12), falling to Saint Thomas Aquinas in the waning seconds on two free throws by ECC Preseason Player of the Year Chaz Watler (Brooklyn, N.Y.) in a 76-74 loss in Sparkill. Junior guard Jaylen Morris (Amherst, N.Y.) had 28 points and six steals, on an afternoon in which he shot 9-for-17 from the field and hit nine free throws while only missing one. Teammate Charlie Marquardt (Rockaway Beach, N.Y.) registered 16 points while shooting 50% (6-12) from the field and 80% (4-5) from beyond the three-point line for the Lions in the loss.

Jay-Mo In The House
Morris was named Co-East Coast Conference Player of the Week on Monday (Dec. 14) following his stupendous performances against both STAC and Mercy in the prior seven days. He averaged 25.5 points per contest over the 1-1 start to Molloy's conference slate and currently leads the team with averages of 19.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest. The Amherst native also is shooting fairly well from the field (55.7%) but has seen early struggles from the free throw line so far, hitting just 56.3% of his opportunities at the charity stripe.

The O'Reilly Factor
Freshman sharpshooter Chris O'Reilly (Colts Neck, N.J.) has earned a spot in the starting five for the Lions in the last four contests, beginning with the team's contest versus Assumption back on Nov. 29. O'Reilly had a nine-point outing against the Greyhounds on that day, but since then he has hit just 3-of-14 attempts from long range while collecting five rebounds through that span of time as well. The freshman has also seen his minutes diminish somewhat, but the left-handed marksman continues to show a willingness to let the ball fly from three-point territory as well as a lack of intimidation on playing so early in his Molloy career.

1,000 Waits For Williams
Senior guard Brandon Williams (Baldwin, N.Y.) is inching closer and closer to becoming the 14^th member of the Molloy 1,000-Point Club. With seven points versus Saint Thomas Aquinas on Saturday, Williams put himself at 949 career points with plenty of time remaining to get to the four-digit plateau. A matchup with UDC is favorable for the senior guard, who averaged 20 points per game in two meetings with the Firebirds last season.

Firebird Factoids
UDC has come back strong following a five-game losing streak to open its season this year with losses against CACC schools such as Nyack, Philadelphia and Chestnut Hill. Mike Riley's club has won four of five, including a revenge win against the Griffins along with conference victories versus Roberts Wesleyan and Daemen most recently. In an 89-84 win over the Wildcats on Sunday (Dec. 13), junior Virgil Fleming (Chicago, Ill.) turned in a quality game with 16 points, nine rebounds and seven assists while fellow Chicago native Jayone Troutman collected 16 points and seven rebounds. Junior point guard Kasim Chandler (Newark, N.J.) scored a team-high 21 points for UDC in a battle of scoring leaders as senior guard Torrance Dyck (Rochester, N.Y.) had a game-best 26 points for Daemen. Both Chandler and Dyck are currently averaging over 20 points per game thus far this year.

Coaching Championship Pedigree
Taking a look at the UDC men's basketball staff showcases prominence in playing careers and a chance for the Firebirds to learn from exceptional basketball minds. Head Coach Mike Riley was a member of John Thompson's Georgetown men's basketball staff and tasted the ultimate victory in 1984 as the Hoyas---led by a certain individual named Patrick Ewing---won the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship. Assistant coach Anthony Iati played for and coached at Iona, leading the Gaels to the 1981 Sweet Sixteen as a player and the 2006 NCAA Tournament as a coach. Iati was also a coach for UDC in the 2011-12 season that saw the Firebirds break a quarter-century drought with a 22-6 season and an NCAA Tournament appearance. Finally, Terrell Stokes played for the University of Maryland under the tutelage of Gary Williams, leading the Terrapins to the 1999 Sweet Sixteen with a squad that featured 2002 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player Juan Dixon.

Senegal Says Go
As much as Chandler, Troutman and Fleming have been driving the Firebirds' season thus far, senior guard Erin Senegal (Lafayette, La.) has been just as important in the resurgence of UDC this season. Senegal is currently averaging 16.3 points per game while also hitting shots from three-point range at a 46% clip. Where Senegal is at his most dangerous, however, is the free throw line as the senior is shooting 88% from the stripe and has made nine of his last ten foul shots over the previous four games.

East Coast Conference Standings Look-In
1) LIU Post (7-2, 3-0 ECC)
2) UDC (4-6, 2-0 ECC)
3) Saint Thomas Aquinas (6-3, 2-1 ECC)
T-4) Dowling (5-4, 1-1 ECC)
T-4) Queens, N.Y. (3-4, 1-1 ECC)
T-4) Bridgeport (2-5, 1-1 ECC)
T-4) Molloy (2-6, 1-1 ECC)
8) Mercy (2-4, 1-2 ECC)
T-9) Roberts Wesleyan (3-4, 0-1 ECC)
T-9) Daemen (2-4, 0-1 ECC)
11) NYIT (1-8, 0-3 ECC)