Nov. 16, 2008

Box Score

Garden City, N.Y. - The Adelphi University men's basketball team hosted Dominican College on the second day of the two-day Adelphi Tip-Off Classic, Sunday November 16. Richard Byrd's 24 points led the Panthers to a 64-50 victory over the Chargers. With the win Adelphi evens its record at 1-1, while Dominican falls to 1-1.

The first 15 minutes of action was a defensive struggle as Dominican moved out to a 7-3 lead with 14:17 on the clock. Adelphi countered with a quick 5-0 spurt, capped by a Sky Khaleel lay-up, giving the Panthers an 8-7 edge. From there the game went back and forth as there were three ties in the next three and a half minutes.

With the score knotted at 14 an Alvin Vivican three and a Byrd jumper gave Adelphi a 19-14 cushion with 7:10 on the clock. The Chargers pulled back within one, 19-18 courtesy of a Will Carty bucket, but a Mike McDuffie lay-up sparked a 9-0 Panther run that put Dominican in a 28-18 hole with 1:50 left in the half.

Abdul Sulaiman converted a three-point play with 1:05 left to cut into Adelphi's lead, but Byrd knocked down two free throws with three seconds on the clock to give the Panthers a 33-22 bulge at the half.

The Panthers stormed out of the half, using a quick 6-2 run, capped by a Byrd triple, to push their advantage to 15 points, 39-24. From there Adelphi kept the pressure on, taking their largest lead of the game with 8:59 remaining, 50-30, on another Byrd three-pointer.

Dominican recovered late, closing the gap to 12 points, but the Panthers shut the door as back-to-back lay-ups from Vivican and Byrd made the score 64-48 and a late Tim Matchett bucket gave Adelphi a 64-50 win.

Matchett led the Chargers with 11 points, while Brandon Brock chipped in nine points.

Byrd's 24 points led the Panther attack, he also pulled down seven rebounds. Khaleel and Vivican also reached double figures with 13 and 11 points apiece, while Casey Cosgrove led all players with eight assists.

Adelphi returns to action on November 21 when they take on Stonehill College in opening day action of the Molloy tournament.