Nov. 20, 2010

Box Score

Rockville Centre, N.Y. - The Adelphi University men's basketball team traveled to Rockville Centre, New York on Saturday, November 20 to take on Franklin Pierce in the championship game of the Molloy Classic. Adelphi moved out to a 41-32 halftime lead and held on for a 83-73 victory. With the win the Panthers remain unbeaten at, 3-0 while Franklin Pierce falls to 2-2.

Richard Byrd led all players in points and rebounds with 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Rob Johnson added 22 points. Both David Akinyooye and Chris Ranglin scored in double figures as Akinyooye chipped in 13 points and Ranglin 12.

Adelphi and Franklin Pierce played a tight early game, as no one was able to take a lead of more then six points in the first 15 minutes of action. Franklin Pierce led the contest by two, 29-27, with 4:44 on the clock when a Norron McDonald lay-up tied the action at 29 and sparked a 8-0 Panther burst that was capped by a Chris Ranglin lay-up.

With Adelphi ahead, 35-29, a Jeff Manchester three-pointer pulled the Ravens to within three, 35-32, but the Panthers closed the half with a 6-0 spurt, taking a nine point lead, 41-32 into the half.

The Panthers stormed out of the locker room, out scoring Franklin Pierce, 14-4 in the first five minutes of the second frame to take a huge 19 point lead, 55-46. Adelphi would take their largest lead of the game, 63-43, courtesy of a Rob Johnson lay-up with 12:25 left in the contest.

From there the Panther lead would remain at 13 or better, until two Franklin Pierce foul shots cut the margin to 11 points, 79-68, with 1:15 on the clock. A raven lay-up 24 seconds later would get Franklin Pierce within single digits at 79-70, but Richard Harkins and David Akinyooye each made one of two foul shots to push the lead back to 11, 81-70 and Adelphi would hang on for a 83-73 victory.

The Panthers return to action on Tuesday, November 23 when they travel to Albany, New York to take on Northeast-10 power St. Rose College at 7:30 pm.