Jan. 26, 2006

Box Score

Garden City, N.Y. - The Adelphi men's basketball team held visiting C.W. Post to just 20 percent shooting in the first half, building a 30-13 halftime lead. Then the Panthers held on down the stretch, making 10-12 free throws over the final 1:30 of play to hold on for a 62-55 win. With the win Adelphi runs their current win streak to five games, while improving to 13-4 overall and 9-1 in conference play. With the loss C.W. Post falls to 9-8 overall and 6-5 in NYCAC action.

Adelphi came out firing, building a 9-0 lead just 2:32 into the game on the strength of an opening three-pointer from Jamaal Wagner (Jamaica, N.Y.) and then two straight from Kimani Blaize (Brooklyn, N.Y.). The Panthers pushed the advantage to 10, 14-4, on a Sam Jenkins (Brooklyn, N.Y.) made free throw, before the Pioneers could cut it back to single-digits with a three-pointer from Raul Mercedes (New York, N.Y.).

The Panthers responded by finished the half with a 16-5 run over the final 11:01 to enter the locker room with a 30-13 lead. Ben Kenyon (Union, NJ) capped the run with a jumper as time expired.

Kenyon and Wagner combined to give Adelphi their largest lead of the game less then a minute into action when a Kenyon three-pointer and a Wagner lay-up put the Panthers ahead 22, 35-13. The Pioneers chipped away at Adelphi's lead over the next 13 minutes, but still trailed by 16, 50-34, with just 5:58 to play.

C.W. Post's perseverance paid off, as the Pioneers went on an 11-2 run over the next 4:16 to get back within single digits, trailing by just seven, 52-45. However, seven points was as close as the Pioneers would get. The Panthers converted 10-12 free throws over the last 1:30 to seal the win.

Mercedes led the Pioneers with 15 points, while John Morris (Houston, Texas) chipped in 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds.

Both Blaize and Sean Corrigan (Hicksville, N.Y.) scored 11 points for Adelphi, with Corrigan adding six rebounds. Wagner also had a solid game, scoring nine points, pulling down 13 boards and handing out six assists.

The Panthers return to action on Saturday, January 28 when they play host to Molloy College at 3:00 pm in Woodruff Hall.