Flushing, N.Y. - Despite having all five starters reach double digits and nearly matching a season-high point tally, the men's basketball team opened up East Coast Conference play with a 105-90 loss at Queens College. Molloy fell to 1-7 (0-1 ECC) in the loss while the effort lifted the Knights to 3-6 (1-0 ECC).
How it Happened
- Molloy took an early lead, scoring the first seven points of the contest on a three-pointer and layup from sophomore Rob Matos and a layup from freshman Dylan Kopp.
- The Knights responded with a 10-0 run to lead, 10-7, after two minutes of play.
- Back-to-back treys from junior Payton Shumpert and sophomore Bryce Merchant regained the lead for the Lions, who would extend the advantage to as many as five points, 19-14, with 13:35 left in the opening half.
- The home team would once again respond, this time netting 11 unanswered points to lead, 25-23.
- The teams would be tied two more times, including at 27 with just under 10 minutes on the clock.
- Queens would hit five three-pointers in the final 10 minutes to help the Knights to a 52-41 lead at the break.
- Molloy would come within four, 61-57, at the 15 minute mark of the second half but Queens would maintain its double-digit advantage for most of the second half.
Top Performances
- As a team, the Lions shot a season-best 57.8 percent from the floor.
- Matos paced all scorers with 30 points, matching a career-high, going 10-of-15 from the field with three treys while adding a team-leading four assists.
- Merchant followed with 15 points on a 6-of-11 shooting afternoon and matched a career-high two blocks.
- Kopp also reached career-best totals, scoring 14 on a 7-of-9 performance.
- Shumpert hit three treys en route to an 11 point afternoon while adding six rebounds.
- Graduate student Matt Lane notched a double-double 10 points and a team-leading 11 rebounds.
Up Next
Molloy heads on the road and will face Roberts Wesleyan University on Sunday (Dec. 15) at 4:00 p.m. from Rochester, N.Y.
