Nov. 17, 2010

 

Box Score

Garden City, N.Y. -

The Adelphi University men's basketball team hosted the Setters of Pace University this evening in their season opener at the Center for Recreation and Sport. The Panthers held a 34-20 halftime lead en route to the victory, 90-59. AU starts the season 1-0 and 1-0 in the NE-10, while Pace falls to 2-1 and 0-1 in the league.

For the Panthers, senior Richard Byrd scored a game-high 22 points to go with eight rebounds, while classmate David Akinyooye scored 19 points and grabbed eight misses. Sophomore Chris Ranglin contributed with 16 points and eight rebounds, while junior Robert Johnson chipped in with 15 points. Junior Richard Harkins handed out a game-high 10 assists as well.

The game went back and forth throughout the opening minutes of the contest until Adelphi took a 15-8 lead at the 11-minute mark after a Akinyooye bucket. The Setters would cut the lead to four only to have AU take it back and jump out in front 22-14 on a Byrd lay up. Harkins would hit a three-pointer with 5:45 left in the first half to make the score 27-14 in favor of the Panthers. AU got up by as many as 16 until Jonathan Merceus hit a jumper with 1:17 left to cut the lead to 34-20.

The Panthers came out aggressive in the second half and took a 17-point lead, 42-27, on a Akinyooye jumper. With 14:14 remaining, sophomore Bradley Simpson hit two free throws to give AU a 54-32 lead, their largest of the contest at the time. The closest the Setters got in the second half was 55-38 with 11:40 left, while Adelphi extended their lead to 36 points at one point, 87-51. Adelphi hung 56 points on Pace in the second half.

For the Setters, Jonathan Merceus scored 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while Keon Williams notched a double-double with 14 points and 10 boards. Justin Alston added 12 points in the loss.

The Panthers return to action on Friday, November 19 when they travel to take on cross-town rival Molloy College at 8:00 p.m. in the Lion's Classic.