Box Score ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Feb. 6, 2016) - The Lions were unable to hold off the Firebirds of District of Columbia on Saturday at Quealy Gymnasium, falling 79-70. Molloy now holds a record of 6-15 overall and 4-9 in the ECC. UDC improves to 10-11 on the season and 8-5 in conference.
After trading field goals for the first two minutes of play, the score was tied 6-6. A pair of free throws fromBrandon Williams (Baldwin, N.Y.) kicked off what would become a 15 point run for the Lions to lead UDC 17-6 with 12:38 remaining in the half. A layup by Joseph Nickerson (Newark, N.J.) put an end to the run, but the maroon and white continued to pull ahead with another pair of free throws, this time from Maurice Gatson (New York, N.Y) to make the score 21-10. Traevon Butler (Greenbelt, Md.) and Jayone Troutman (Chicago, Ill.) put together a pair of field goals to keep UDC within 7, but the Lions continued to dominate from the charity stripe, going 8-8 for the half. Not to be out done, the Firebirds also were hot from the line (10-12). Free throws from Kasim Chandler (Newark, N.J.) and Nickerson at 2:44 put UDC ahead for the first time since the 17-minute mark, a lead they would take into the locker room.
The second half began with a three-point shot from Kevin Bowles (Wantagh, N.Y.) and a layup from Curtis Jenkins (Farmingdale, N.Y.), but UDC responded with a three-pointer and layup set of their own from Butler and Chandler respectively. Charlie Marquardt (Rockaway Beach, N.Y.) put the Lions ahead 49-46 with 15:12 left to play following a shot beyond the arc and a pair of free throws. The junior guard tacked up seven more points with a pair of three-point shots and a free throw to give the maroon and white a 56-49 lead with13:24 remaining. The visitors rallied back with an 12 point run, featuring eight points from Chandler, and two each from Nickerson and Troutman, to bring the score to 73-67 Firebirds. A three-point shot from Bowles with 1:52 to play closed out the scoring for the Lions, but the visitors went on to score another six, four of which came from the line. Marquardt notched a double-double, scoring 25 points with ten rebounds. The Lions were also led by Jenkins and Williams with 11 and ten points respectively. The home team also continued their dominance at the foul line into the second half, finishing at 85.7%. Nickerson (21 points, 13 rebounds) and Troutman (24 points, 14 rebounds) of UDC also finished with double-doubles. Their scoring was rounded out by junior guard Kasim Chandler, who had 13 points and led the team with four steals.
The maroon and white return to action on Wednesday (Feb. 10) at 5:00 p.m. at the Pratt Recreation Center for a contest against the LIU Post Pioneers. If you cannot make Wednesday's game, be sure to check out our YouTube channel for a live audio and video broadcast. Be sure to follow Molloy College Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all the latest up-to-date information about your favorite Lions programs!
