The fifth-seeded men's basketball team (8-20, 7-11 ECC) is set to face the fourth-seeded Pioneers of LIU Post (11-17, 9-9 ECC) in the opening round of the 2017-18 East Coast Conference Championship tonight at 7:00 p.m. at the Pratt Recreation Center in Brookville, N.Y.

Game Information
Watch   Listen    Live Stats
Tickets: FREE to Molloy students with ID
               Adults: $8            Seniors and children: $4

The Pioneers have gotten the best of the Lions both times they played each other during the regular season, but each contest came down to the wire.

When Molloy hosted on January 3, LIU Post walked away with a 71-65 advantage despite the maroon and white leading most of the second half. The Pioneers ended the game on a 9-2 run in the final five minutes for the victory. Junior Mike Torre led all scorers with 19 points while Curtis Jenkins (14 points, 10 rebounds) and Nick Corbett (12 points, 10 rebounds) each added double-doubles. Five Pioneers reached double digits, led by 18 off the bench from Jared Rivers
.
It would take extra time to determine a winner in the next meeting, February 7 in Brookville, with LIU Post earning the 89-83 victory. Jenkins, Corbett, and Torre each topped 20 points in the effort with Corbett (21 points, 10 assists) and Josh Dennis (10 points, 10 rebounds) recorded double-doubles. All five of the Pioneers' starters reached double digits, including a double-double from Kyle Doucette (11 points, 11 rebounds). Kyle McLeggan led all scorers with 24 points.

Molloy has two players ranked in the top-10 in the conference in scoring in Corbett (17.7 points per game) and Jenkins (15.6 points per game). Jenkins also ranks in the top-10 in rebounding (6.9 per game) and tops the ECC in steals (2.5 per game). Rivers ended the regular season third in the league with 18.7 points per game for the Pioneers.

LIU Post holds the all-time advantage against the Lions, as Molloy is 11-46 all-time against the local rival.

The winner of tonight's contest will advance to the semifinal round against top-seeded University of Bridgeport (24-4, 17-1 ECC) on Saturday (Mar. 3) in Rochester, N.Y. at 5:00 p.m. The ECC Men's Basketball Champion will be crowned on Sunday (Mar. 4).