Box Score PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Nov. 11, 2016) - The Molloy men's basketball team opened their season against Rutgers University on Friday (Nov. 11) night. The Lions held strong in the first half against the Division I Scarlet Knights, keeping the score to a close 35-25. Rutgers, however, put together a 51-point second stanza to earn the 86-57 victory at the RAC.
Rutgers (1-0) opened the game on a nine point run, with Deshawn Freeman (Rocky Mount, N.C.), C.J. Gettys (Columbus, Ohio), and Jonathan Laurent (Orlando, Fla.) all contributing for the home team. The Lions (0-1) would get on the board with 15 minutes remaining in the opening frame, as sophomore
Mike Torre (Massapequa, N.Y.) put one away in the paint off an assist from freshman
Nick Corbett (Staten Island, N.Y.). Down ten with just under 12 minutes in the half,
Jaylen Morris (Amherst, N.Y.) and Corbett combined for seven points to bring Molloy within three. Rutgers would attempt to pull away, bringing the point differential to 12 with four and a half minutes remaining, but a layup by Torre and a three-pointer from
Charlie Marquardt (Rockaway Beach, N.Y.) cut the lead nearly in half. The two teams would head into the locker room with the score standing at 35-25 in favor of the home team.
In the second half, the Lions would strike first as Morris put up a good layup 27 seconds into the action. Twice, the Scarlet Knights would try to put some distance between the two teams, but three-pointers from Marquardt would bring Molloy back within five. With 13 minutes remaining in the game, Rutgers would settle into a rhythm, going on a 18 point run to give themselves a 24 point lead. Successful foul shots from Marquardt ended the rally and brought the score to 70-48. Both teams would exchange free-throws in the following minutes with Rutgers leading 77-55. a layup from
Josh Dennis (Valley Stream, N.Y.) would bring the Lions to their final score of 57, while Rutgers scored the final points of the game to secure the 86-57 win.
Marquardt would lead all scoring, putting up a game-high 19 points, including going 4 of 7 from beyond the arc. Morris and
Mike Guzzardi (Mount Sinai, N.Y.) each pulled down five rebounds for the maroon and white. Rutgers was led by junior Mike Williams (Brooklyn, N.Y.), who totaled 17 points, going 5 of 8 in both field goals and three-pointers. Freeman earned a double-double in the effort, posting 13 points and pulling down 11 rebounds, as well as adding three blocks.
Molloy returns to action on Saturday (Nov. 12) as they head to Albany, N.Y. for the College of Saint Rose Tip-Off Classic. The Lions will battle the host school at 3:00 p.m.
