Feb. 14, 2009

Box Score

Rockville Centre. N.Y. - Senior Casey Cosgrove drained the game-winning free throw with 1:27 left in overtime as Adelphi squeezed out a 68-67 win over Molloy College on Saturday, February 14 at Quealy Gymnasium. With the victory, the Panthers improve their record to 16-7 overall and 10-4 in the East Coast Conference, while the Lions fall to 7-16 overall, 6-8 in the ECC.

The Panthers stingy defense was the story in the first half as Molloy shot 37.5 percent from the field (6-for-16) and committed 14 turnovers. The 14 turnovers by Molloy translated into 15 Adelphi points.

After Molloy took an early 4-0 advantage, the Panthers went on a 24-6 run in a 10:45 minute span to take a 24-8 lead with 7:54 on the clock. Adelphi seniors Sky Khaleel and Arjan Perovic scored five of their seven first half points in the run. Perovic also had three of nine first half steals for Adelphi. The Lions missed seven shots in a row and turned the ball over nine times in the stretch. It was not until Molloy's Carl Palmer made a jumper with 7:54 on the clock that ended the Lions field goal drought.

Both teams would trade buckets as the Lions briefly closed the gap to 15 points with 5:03, however, after a jumper by Panther senior Alvin Vivican and a layup by freshman Robert Johnson, the Panthers took their largest lead of the afternoon, 19 points, 33-14, with 3:53 remaining. Molloy would score the final four points in the first half on a free throw by Brian Hutchinson and a three pointer by Girard Fitts and head into the locker room trailing 35-22.

The momentum rapidly shifted in a battle tested second half. The Lions started out the second half on a 13-5 run that cut the deficit to five points, 40-35 with just over 15 minutes left in the half. Juniors Michael Johnson and Fitts led the Lions charge accounting for all of Molloy's 13 points in the run.

Adelphi would answer by going on a 5-0 run of its own, extending their lead back to double digits, 45-35, with 13:10 remaining. Adelphi turned the ball over four times, due to the Lions full court pressure and Molloy would trim the Panthers lead to three, 48-45, with 9:33 left.

The game went back and forth the final 6:28 of regulation with Molloy down by four points, 52-48. The Lions Palmer nailed a three cutting Adelphi's lead to one point, but on the next possession for the Panthers Cosgrove fired back hitting a three of his own giving Adelphi a four point lead, 55-51, with 4:46.

Molloy's Johnson converted on a jumper trimming Adelphi's lead to two points and after two missed shots by Adelphi, the Lions would take their first lead of the contest, 56-55, on another rainbow three pointer by Palmer.

The Panthers would find themselves down by four points, 62-58, with 1:10 remaining in regulation until Cosgrove swooshed in two free throws with 43 seconds left. Senior Richard Byrd would come up big on Molloy's ensuing possession stealing the ball away from the Lions Ian Thomas-Minor and got fouled. Byrd would make two free throws knotting the game up at 62, with 21 seconds to go. The Lions had a chance to win in regulation, but heavy pressure applied by Cosgrove forced Palmer to miss his shot and the game was sent into an extra frame.

Adelphi's Johnson nailed a three that put Adelphi up, 67-62, with 3:46 remaining in the extra session. The Lions would fight their way back tying the game at 67 on a third Palmer three pointer with 1:40 to go. With 1:27 left, Cosgrove nailed one of two free throws that gave Adelphi a 68-67 lead. Molloy had two chances in the final five seconds to potentially win the game. Matt Wafula's leaner with three seconds left was thwarted away by the Panthers Khaleel. With two seconds on the clock, Adelphi would be called for an in-bounds violation turning the ball over to the Lions and Palmer's three point attempt with one second remaining hit the back iron and Adelphi hung on to win 68-67.

Byrd led the Panthers with 15 points and six rebounds converting on all eight of his free throws. Khaleel contributed 12 points and three rebounds in the win. For the Lions, Fitts had a game high 23 points, 16 in the second half. Palmer had 13 points and Johnson had 11 points in the defeat.

Adelphi returns to action on Wednesday February 18 when they travel to Dobbs Ferry, New York for an ECC meeting with Mercy College.