March 4, 2009
Box Score
Garden City, N.Y. -
ECC Bracket
The third seeded Adelphi University men's basketball team played host to #6 Queens College on Wednesday, March 4 in an East Coast Conference quarterfinal match-up. The Panthers built a 30-17 lead in the first half and never looked back, collecting a 57-49 win. With the win Adelphi improves to 20-8 overall and advances to the ECC semifinals, while Queens ends their season at 10-18.
Adelphi's offense was off the mark early, but the Panthers played outstanding defense, holding Queens scoreless for the first seven and a half minutes of play, building a 9-0 lead. A Steffon Farley lay-up sparked another Adelphi run as the Panthers out scored Queens, 11-4, to take a 22-6 lead with 7:48 on the clock.
A Richard Byrd jumper with 4:29 remaining in the half gave Adelphi their largest cushion of the period, 27-8, but Queens would battle back and close to within 11. However, two free throws from Alvin Vivican and one from Robert Johnson gave the Panthers a 30-17 lead at the break.
Queens came out of the half rolling, as the Knights used a 10-2 run to pull within five points, 32-27, with 17:16 on the clock. A Sky Khaleel jumper opened up Adelphi's response, a 10-3 run, that was capped by a Farley dunk and gave the Panthers a 42-30 bulge with 12:11 to play.
The Knights got back within five, 48-43, on a Khaleef Allicott lay-up with 2:55 remaining. Adelphi scored five straight points to push their lead back to 10, 55-43, securing a 57-49 win.
Allicott led the way for Queens with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Mike Liander chipped in 14 points and grabbed nine misses.
Byrd was the high man for Adelphi with 14 points and five rebounds, while Vivican added 13 points and five misses. Khaleel managed 11 points, four rebounds and three blocks.
Adelphi returns to action on Saturday, March 7, when they play host to #2 Bridgeport at 7:30 pm in the ECC semifinals.
