ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Dec. 7, 2016) – In a contest in which the score was tied on 11 separate occasions, the Molloy men's basketball team walked away with an 85-82 win over the Knights of Queens College. The win improved the Lions' record to 4-6 (1-1 ECC), while Queens fell to 4-5 (2-2 ECC) with the loss.

The opening minutes of the game saw baskets sunk back and forth; neither team was able to gain much of an advantage until a three-pointer from Malcom Moore (Corona, N.Y.) pushed the Knights ahead by four. Mike Guzzardi (Mount Sinai, N.Y.) sank a layup to cut the lead in half, but Tyrone Hall (Brooklyn, N.Y.) nailed a jumper to put the Knights back up 17-13. A dunk from Guzzardi and layup from Mike Torre (Massapequa, N.Y.) brought the game to its first tie. The teams again found themselves tied, this time at 24, following a jumper from Jaylen Morris (Amherst, N.Y.). Five additional points from the senior, coupled with a fastbreak layup from Curtis Jenkins (Farmingdale, N.Y.) put Molloy on top 31-24 with just over eight minutes left in the opening half. The Knights continued to push their way back though, and finally took a four-point lead following a three-pointer from Hall with 4:44 left in the half. The maroon and white countered with an eight-point run to go up 43-39 with 1:35 remaining. A jumper from Hall cut the lead to two points. The teams each exchanged a made set of free throws to end the half with Molloy up 45-43.

The score would be tied twice more in the opening minutes of the second frame, until Molloy pushed to a 7-2 run to go up 55-52. Four points from Kyheim Chaplin (Freeport, N.Y.) quickly swayed the lead back in favor of the Knights. The Lions edged out to a three point lead, but Chaplin hit another three-pointer to once again tie the contest, this time with less than 10 minutes left on the game clock. Five points from Morris and a pair of made foul shots from Charlie Marquardt (Rockaway Beach, N.Y.) put Molloy up by seven with 7:23 remaining. Chaplin and White combined for seven points, however, and the score once again became tied. The teams continued battling back and forth, and found the score tied again with 1:50 on the game clock.

A made foul shot from Morris would break the tie for the final time, sending Molloy up 78-77. Marquardt extended the lead with a layup, but Chaplin countered with one of his own. Three foul shots from Nick Corbett (Staten Island, N.Y.) put Molloy up by four points with 14 seconds remaining.  Immediately following the foul shots, Diego Maldonado (Valley Stream, N.Y.) made a layup to cut Molloy's lead to two points. Marquis Roberts (Brooklyn, N.Y.) sunk a foul shot with six seconds left on the clock to bring the score to 83-82 Molloy. Needing possession back, the Knights were forced to foul and send Marquardt to the line. The senior nailed both of his shots, giving Molloy the 85-82 victory.

Morris led all scorers with 20 points. Marquardt and Guzzardi posted 17 and 16 points, respectively, while Torre added 11. Jenkins posted 12 points and added 10 rebounds for his first career double-double. Jenkins and Marquardt each also nabbed two crucial steals for the maroon and white.

Molloy kicks off a string of road contests on Saturday (Dec. 10) as they face Roberts Wesleyan College at 4:00 p.m.