Adelphi University Athletics

Pleasantville, N.Y. - A three-pointer from the corner from Jack Laffey helped propel the Adelphi University men's basketball team to a 77-76 season opening, overtime victory against Felician earlier tonight. The game was played on the campus of Pace University.

Trailing 76-74 following a a lay up from Felician (0-1) guard Kennedy Chukwuocha with 41 seconds left in the overtime session, Conor McGuinness drove the ball up the floor for the Panthers (1-0). Finding room on the right wing and making space in the middle of the key, the sophomore guard found his classmate, Laffey, in the left corner. The Red Bank, N.J. native quickly found his form and converted his game-winning attempt with 22 seconds left on the clock. The Brown and Gold defense followed up by not allowing the Golden Falcons to find the go-ahead basket.

The game-winner marked the third three-pointer on the night for Laffey, who finished with 10 points and seven rebounds. Meanwhile, the pass was one of 13 assists for McGuinness. Michael Coffey and Manny Suarez equally split 54 of the team's 77 points on the night with Suarez adding 13 rebounds and four blocks. Coffey notched his point total by shooting 7-of-10 from beyond the arc.

Gjaimeir Stanford led Felician with 25 points in addition to five rebounds, two steals and two assists. Terrell Spaulding recorded 14 points and 12 rebounds in the double-double effort. The Golden Falcons also controlled a 46-40 rebound margin despite the setback.

A 15-2 run within a two-minute span in the first half created a 22-11 advantage for the Panthers, capped off by a three-pointer from Daveyon Barnes with 12 minutes until intermission. Coffey ended another Adelphi run prior to the break with a trey with three seconds left, giving Adelphi a 37-26 halftime lead. The junior led all scores in the half with 17 points behind 5-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc.

Laffey extended the Panther advantage to 14 points, the largest of the game, at 43-29 with a three-pointer off a Austin Beech assist less than three minutes into the second period. However, a 17-2 run from Felician quickly afforded the Golden Falcons a 46-45 lead on a Bryant Webb lay up and free throw. Adelphi again built a lead to seven points following the quick deficit, however, Felician created multiple runs to even the score at 66-66 with 11 seconds left in regulation.

Following an Adelphi timeout, a play designed to Suarez resulted in a dunk from the junior to give the Panthers a 68-66 lead with two seconds left. Felician was again up to the challenge despite the limit on time, creating a foul to send Webb to the charity stripe. Webb went on to convert both free throws and force overtime.

In the extra session, Felician held the lead until a Coffey layup tied the game at 74-74 with 54 seconds remaining. Chukwuocha regained the lead for the visitors on the scoreboard before Laffey sent the Panthers home with the win with the clinching shot.

The Brown and Gold return to the court on Saturday at 4:00 pm with a contest against Georgian Court to conclude the weekend in Pleasantville.

Notes:
- The Panthers owned a 30-point differential beyond the arc.
- Adelphi was selected third in the Southwest Division of the NE-10 Coaches' Poll following a 14-win turnaround last year.

---

About Adelphi Athletics:
Adelphi University joined the Northeast-10 Conference in the fall of 2009 and in the past seven seasons, has collected 20 regular season conference titles, 24 tournament championships, 29 individual crowns and captured the Northeast-10 Presidents' Cup three times (2013, 2014, and 2016), while winning five NCAA Division II National Championships.

For the latest on Adelphi University Athletics, follow the Panthers at www.aupanthers.com or via social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Snapchat.