Amherst, N.Y. (Feb. 16, 2018) – Despite leading by 13 points in the second half, the men's basketball team fell to Daemen College, 102-98, in double overtime. The Lions dropped to 6-19 on the season and 4-10 in East Coast Conference play and currently sit just outside the ECC playoffs while Daemen improved to 18-7 (12-3 ECC) and are tied for second-place in the league.
Sophomore
Nick Corbett and redshirt freshman
Justin Caldwell each set career-highs, scoring 33 and 18 points respectively. Corbett added six rebounds, four assists, and a block while Caldwell just missed a double-double with nine boards and one block. Junior
Curtis Jenkins notched the first triple-double of his career, ending the game with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists. The guard also nabbed a game-high six steals. Junior
Mike Torre rounded out Molloy's top scorers with 17 points.
Corbett and Jenkins combined for 22 points to help the maroon and white to a 36-31 lead at the end of the first half. While Daemen would come within two, a 16-5 run from the Lions, featuring triples from Corbett and Torre, gave Molloy a 56-43 advantage. The Wildcats chipped away at the deficit, tying the contest 67-67, with seven minutes to play. A Daemen layup gave the home team a two-point lead with 2:22 on the clock, but two foul shots from Caldwell knotted the score. Neither team could sink a basket in the final two minutes of play, forcing the extra period.
The Lions opened the scoring in overtime, but a 12-5 run put Daemen ahead, 88-85, with 12 seconds left to play. A last-second trey from Corbett, however, tied the score 88-88 and send the contest to a second overtime.
The Wildcats took a four-point lead in the first two minutes, but Torre sunk a layup to tie the score, 96-96. A Daemen triple put the home team in front, 99-96. Corbett nailed two foul shots to bring Molloy within one in the final 30 seconds, but the Wildcats ended the contest on a 3-0 run to hang on for the victory.
The maroon and white return to the court tomorrow (Feb. 17) as the Lions take on Roberts Wesleyan College. Tip-off is slated for 4:00 p.m. from the Vollar Athletic Center.
