Rockville Centre, N.Y. – The Molloy men's basketball began 2026 with an 87-78 victory over the Knights of Queens College Saturday afternoon on Bob Houlihan Court. As a result, Molloy improves to 2-12 overall and 2-2 in East Coast Conference play, while the Knights move to 5-10 overall and 1-3 in league play.
 
How it Happened

• The Lions held the lead from tip-off until the 13:48 mark of the first half, when Queens College drained back-to-back three-point baskets to pull in front, 15-13.
• Over the next 5:45 Molloy settled in and put together a monster 19-3 run to take its largest lead of the afternoon, 32-18. The run saw Molloy shoot 73 percent from the floor, force six turnovers, and swipe five steals.
• Over the course of the rally five Lions found the scoresheet, led by redshirt senior Seydina Mohamed Dieng who netted eight points on the back of a pair of three-point shots and a layup.
• The Knights would find its rhythm closing the first half on a 17-7 run, holding Molloy to three field goals in the final eight minutes of the opening stanza. The cardinal and white would take a 39-35 lead into halftime.
• Entering the second half, the road team would continue to chomp at the bit and cut the deficit to one, 49-48, with 15:30 to play.
• Molloy would establish a multi-possession advantage over the course of the next five minutes of action, as field goals from junior Bryce Merchant, sophomore Dylan Kopp, and Dieng had the Lions in control, 65-58, midway through the second half.
• Queens continued to grind and chip away at the deficit, putting together a 13-5 rally over a 2:47 of action, shooting 5-of-6 from the floor to take its first lead since the first half, 71-70, with 6:48 remaining on the scoreboard.
• The cardinal and white controlled the next couple of minutes, putting together a mini-7-0 run that saw Merchant net four points and freshman Chase Timberlake collect three points to push ahead, 77-71 with under five minutes to go.
• Molloy would hold the Knights to just two field goals on seven attempts while shooting 57 percent in the final 4:43 as they would go on to secure the victory, 87-78.

Top Performances

• Kopp scored a game-high 22 points.
• Merchant netted 20 points on 75 percent shooting while securing a team-high seven rebounds.
• Timberlake collected 17 points, tied a team-high five assists, and grabbed five rebounds.
• Dieng tied a career-high 14 points while swiping five steals and dishing out four assists. 

Up Next
Molloy will have six days to prepare for its next home contest Friday, January 16 as they welcome D'Youville to Rockville Centre. Tip-off on Bob Houlihan Court is slated for 7:30 p.m.