Rochester, N.Y. – The men's basketball team picked up it's second consecutive victory Saturday afternoon, defeating Roberts Wesleyan, 87-84, in a pivotal ECC contest inside Voller Athletic Center. The Lions improve to 9-16 (8-8 ECC) while the Redhawks fall to 11-10 (9-7 ECC) with the loss.
 
How It Happened

• In the opening two minutes, a jumper from junior Frankie Phelan and a three-point basket freshman Darren Fergus gave Molloy held an early lead, 5-0.
• Junior William Muller knotted the contest at 11, following a jump shot with over 14 minutes to play.
• Over the next five minutes of game time, the Redhawks found its rhythm, putting together a 17-5 scoring run while shooting 50 percent from behind the three-point line. Roberts Wesleyan led, 28-16, with 9:10 remaining in the opening stanza.
• Molloy responded with a 10-0 run of its own, highlighted by senior Steven Torre who netted five points. The run brought Molloy within two, 28-26, with over six minutes to go.
• A pair of three-point field goals and a layup helped reestablish a double-digit lead for the Redhawks, 36-26, with 4:13 remaining on the scoreboard.
• The Lions closed the first half on a 15-4 run, capped by a three from freshman Billy Reyes. Molloy led 41-40 heading into halftime.
• Coming out of the locker room Molloy came out scorching hot, compiling a 19-7 run, shooting a perfect 7-of-7 from the field and 3-of-3 from three-point range. Freshman Kenny Lazo paced the Lions run with six points. Molloy took an 11-point advantage, 60-49, with over 15 minutes to go.
• Roberts Wesleyan sunk a layup to calm the storm and bring the deficit to nine, 60-51, with 13:42 to play.
• Over the next 1:49, the Lions opened its largest lead of the contest to 19, 70-51, following a 10-0 run spearheaded by Fergus who tallied eight points.
• The home team began to fight back, cutting the deficit to 11, 70-59, with 10:04 left on the scoreboard.
• Redshirt Sophomore Kendell Ogilvie hit a layup to push Molloy ahead by 15, 74-59, with over nine minutes remaining.
• Over the next four minutes of game time, Roberts put together a 16-3 run, shooting 75 percent from the field, to close the gap to two, 77-75, with 5:26 to play.
• The Redhawks took its first lead since the first half, 80-79, following a three from Eric Lewis with over three minutes to go.
• Molloy responded with four consecutive points from Muller and Lazo to give the Lions a three point advantage, 83-80, with 1:43 left on the clock.
• Lazo sank a pair of foul shots to give Molloy a four point cushion, 85-81, with four seconds left.
• Roberts did not let the Lions off the hook though, nailing a three with a second to play closing the deficit to one, 85-84.
• Muller stepped to the free-throw line and sank two shots to close out the 87-84 victory.

Top Performances

• Lazo led the Lions scoring a career-high 20 points, dishing out a game-high six assists, and shooting 64 percent from the field.
• Fergus netted 15 points while shooting 7-of-8 from the charity stripe.
• Muller collected his sixth double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
• Torre tallied 13 points, secured nine rebounds, and drained three three-point baskets.
• Ogilvie added 11 points and seven rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench.
• Junior Frankie Phelan finished the game with eight points and swiped a game-high four steals.

 
Up Next
The Lions return to Quealy Gymnasium Thursday (Feb. 24) as they welcome Daemen College to Rockville Centre. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m.