Feb. 9, 2008
Box Score
Sparkill, N.Y. -
The Adelphi University men's basketball team traveled to Sparkill, New York on Saturday, February 9 for a meeting with St. Thomas Aquinas. Arjan Perovic lifted Adelphi to a 64-63 victory over the Spartans with a last second jumper. The win improves Adelphi's record to 13-8 overall and 9-5 in the East Coast Conference (ECC), while St. Thomas Aquinas falls to 11-10 overall and 7-7 in conference play.
Adelphi opened the game on fire, burning the Spartans for 13 straight points in the first 4:52. The Panther kept the pressure on as a Steffon Farley lay-up gave Adelphi a 16-point lead, 18-2, with 14:11 on the clock.
St. Thomas Aquinas battled back, cutting the Adelphi lead to just five on two occasions, including with 3:28 to play on a Willis Kettrell three-pointer that made the score 23-18. However, the Panthers used a 6-1 spurt to take a 10-point lead, 29-19, before a Spartan jumper with 58 seconds left made the score 29-21 at the half.
The Panthers opened the second half with a 5-0 push to take their largest lead of the second half, 34-21, with 18:11 to play. From there St. Thomas Aquinas took control,outscoring Adelphi, 27-15, to cut the Panther bulge to just one point, 49-48, with 7:35 on the clock.
St. Thomas Aquinas did not stop there, taking their first lead of the ball game. 54-53, on a made lay-up with 3:59 left in the game. The lead exchanged hands a few times before an Akeem Comas foul shot gave the Spartans a 61-59 edge with 42 ticks on the clock.
Richard Byrd was fouled while shooting a three-pointer with 25 seconds left and sank all three freebies, giving the Panthers a one-point lead, 62-61. Two Jelani Winfield foul shots with 10 seconds left gave the advantage back to the Spartans, before a Perovic jumper as time expired secured the win for Adelphi, 64-63.
Kettrell led the Spartans with 14 points, while Chris Williams chipped in 12 points and four rebounds.
Byrd led the Panther attack with a game-high 20 points and six rebounds, while Sky Khaleel added 14 points and three rebounds.
Adelphi returns to action on Wednesday, February 13 when they play host to Mercy College at 7:30 pm.
