Nov. 22, 2008

Box Score

Rockville Centre, N.Y. - Sophomore Richard Byrd tallied a season-best 26 points to lead the Adelphi University men's basketball team to a 78-63 win over Pace University this afternoon at the 2008 Molloy Lions' Classic. The Panthers improve to 2-2, while the Setters drop to 1-2.

Junior Casey Cosgrove was the only other Panther in double figures, picking up 22 points and six rebounds, while dishing out seven assists.

The game was close through the first ten minutes of the half, with Adelphi trailing by one, 15-14, at 11:19. A jumper by sophomore David Akinyooye sparked a 22-11 run capped by a trifecta from Cosgrove with 00:34 on the clock, to give the Panthers a 41-26 cushion at intermission.

The rally continued into the second half as Adephi opened a 17 point lead, 49-32, off a Byrd basket plus the foul shot, with 15:08 left in the half. Despite both teams scoring 44 points in the stanza, the Panthers maintained a double digit lead until a short spurt by the Setters closed the gap to eight points, 66-58, with 2:59 left in regulation. Adelphi's defense held Pace scoreless until the final seconds, as the Setters struggled from the line, connecting on just 3-of-3 down the stretch.

On the day, the Panthers shot 52.4 percent from the field, compared with 38.7 percent by the Setters. Adelphi also shot 82.6 percent from the free throw line with Pace only connecting on 9-of-21 or 42.9 percent. Senior Sky Khaleel, who posted nine points and six rebounds, accounted for five of the Panthers seven blocks in the game.

Pace was led by Ryan Woods with 17 points. Justin Alston had 13 points, while Delroy Daley added 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Adelphi returns to action Tuesday, November 25, when they play host to Bloomfield College at 7:30 p.m.