FOUR PLAYERS SCORE IN DOUBLE FIGURES AS MEN’S BASKETBALL FALLS TO DOWLING, 75-70

Box Score vs. Dowling - January 17, 2009 

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Jan. 17, 2009) - Four different players on the Molloy College men's basketball team posted double-digit amounts for points on Saturday, but it was not enough as the Lions lost to the Golden Lions of Dowling College, 75-70, in an East Coast Conference match-up at the Quealy Gymnasium in Rockville Centre, N.Y. With the decision, Molloy dropped to 3-11 and 2-4 in league play. As for Dowling, it went to 6-9 overall and 4-2 in ECC action.  

Leading 11-10 with just under 12 minutes remaining in the first half, the Lions recorded a 7-0 run in a span of 1:14 to take an 18-10 lead with 10:44 to go. Junior forward Girard Fitts (Uniondale, N.Y.) started it with a three-ball and closed it out with a lay-up. Freshman forward Matt Wafula (Harlem, N.Y.) also put up a jumper. 

The Golden Lions answered with a 14-0 burst over a three-minute stretch to grab hold of a 24-18 advantage with 7:03 left. Sophomore guard Sean Smith (Copiague, N.Y.) netted two three-balls. Senior guard Leonard Lans (Spring Valley, N.Y.) notched a three-point play. Freshman forward Beijon Warrington (Bronx, N.Y.) added a jumper off of a turnover by Wafula. 

Five minutes later, Molloy trailed 33-28. The Lions then scored four points in a row on lay-ups by junior forward Ian Thomas-Minor (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and freshman center/forward Dariel Concha (Valley Stream, N.Y.) to cut the deficit to one with 1:15 remaining. But, Dowling eventually went into the locker room ahead by a 36-34 count.

Molloy kicked off the second half with a 12-2 streak during a time of 3:30 to get back the lead at 46-38 with 14:58 to go. Junior guard Carl Palmer (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Fitts respectively opened and wrapped it up with a trifecta. Sophomore forward Brian Hutchinson (Elmont, N.Y.) contributed a lay-up to the effort as well.

Seconds later, the Lions still led by eight (48-40). Then, Dowling tallied 11 of the next 15 points to come within 52-51. Smith, junior forward Josh Lowe (Hauppauge, N.Y.) and junior guard David Seagers (Bronx, N.Y.) each had three points. Eventually, the Golden Lions tied up the contest with 9:03 left off a Seagers lay-up.  

Over the next eight minutes, the game featured six tied scores. This took place until the 59-second mark when the Golden Lions grabbed a 72-70 lead off of a jay by Smith. Fitts had a chance to knot the contest back up or take back the advantage but he clanged a three from the wing off of the rim. After that, Dowling ran back up the court and junior forward Alioune Ndiaye (Senegal) was found underneath the basket for an easy lay-up, which sealed the win for the Golden Lions.

Molloy shot 42.6 percent (23-for-54) from the field and 79.2 percent (19-for-24) from the charity stripe. Fitts finished with 14 points, five assists, three rebounds and one steal. Junior guard Michael Johnson (Jamaica, N.Y.) and Palmer each scored 13 points. Johnson also compiled nine steals, four boards and three assists. Thomas-Minor checked in with 12 points and seven rebounds. Hutchinson earned eight points, eight boards and four assists.

Junior guard Chris Manning (Queens, N.Y.) raked in six points, four assists and four steals. Concha contributed three rebounds, two points and one block. Wafula added two points, two steals and one assist.

Dowling was 23-of-50 (46.0 percent) from the floor, 6-of-19 (31.6 percent) from beyond the arc and 23-of-29 (79.3 percent) from the foul line. Smith scored a game-high 19 points. He also brought down seven rebounds, dished out two assists and swiped two steals. Seagers amassed 14 points, eight boards, three assists and two steals. Lans recorded 12 points, three steals and one rebound. Freshman guard John Merchant (Monticello, N.Y.) collected eight points, four steals, two boards and two assists.

Ndiaye posted seven points, two rebounds and one steal. Lowe and Warrington picked up six points apiece. They also combined to grab down seven boards. Sophomore guard Keith Nandin (Queens, N.Y.) registered four assists, three points and two steals.

Head Coach Charlie Marquardt and the Lions return to the court this Monday when they take on Post University in a non-conference battle on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m.