MEN’S BASKETBALL HOLDS ONTO 67-64 VICTORY OVER MERCY

ROCKVILLE, NY- Senior Glenn Martin (Brooklyn, NY) and freshman Brian Hutchinson (Elmont, NY) each recorded a double-double as the Molloy College men's basketball team defeated the Mavericks of Mercy College, 67-64. The Lions improve to 7-6 overall and 5-2 in conference play, while Mercy falls to 4-10 and 3-4.

As seven minutes ticked off the clock, Molloy held a 21-13 lead after a dunk by sophomore Girard Fitts (Uniondale, NY). The Lions kept their distance from Mercy over the next ten minutes but the Mavericks fought back and cut their disadvantage to three (29-26) as 3:32 remained in the first. Mercy tied the game at 31 and headed into the locker room at halftime with a 34-31 edge.

The Mavericks increased their advantage to eight (39-31) during the first minute of the second half. Two free throws by Fitts evened the score at 46 with 12:50 left in the game but over the next two and a half minutes, Mercy went on a 9-0 run to grab the 55-46 lead. Mercy kept the advantage for the next nine minutes and went up by as many as nine points. With 3:44 on the clock, senior Vincent Falzone (Middle Village, NY) scored six straight points and brought the Lions deficit to two (60-58). The next one minute and 45 seconds remained scoreless for both teams until Martin's lay-up tied the game at 60. Falzone scored the next basket for the 62-60 Molloy advantage. The Lions and the Mavericks traded baskets in the final ticks but Molloy scored the last point for the 67-64 conference victory.

Falzone led all players with 23 points, while Martin ended the game with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Hutchinson contributed 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Fitts added eight points and six steals.

The Lions will travel to Concordia College on Monday, January 14 for a 7:00 PM ECC game.