Box Score
ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. – The Post University men's basketball team dropped its fourth straight season-opener with a 67-64 setback at Molloy on Friday night. The Eagles were led by junior guard
Zach Krischer (Port Jefferson, N.Y.) who poured in 20 points on six three pointers. Krischer was joined in double figures by seniors
Jake Wilcox (Kent, Wash.) and
Sarunas Jackson (Inland Empire, Calif.) with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Post (0-1) opened the game on an 8-0 run over the first 3:26 of the contest. The spurt included a pair of triples by Krischer and a dunk by Jackson. However, Molloy surged back to tie the score at 8-8 with an 8-0 run of its own.
The Lions used a 14-3 run over a span of 7:22 in the first half to turn a four-point Eagles' lead into a seven-point Molloy (1-0) advantage. The stretch opened at the 11:14 mark with a Richard Zoller jump shot and capped with a John Petrucelli layup with 3:52 to play in the opening stanza. Following the run, Post trailed 25-18.
Powered by five points from junior Stephen Perry (Westhampton, N.J.), Post scored eight of the final 11 points of the first half to cut the deficit to three, 33-30, at the intermission.
In the second half, the Eagles used a 12-1 run over a span of 3:11 to take their largest lead of the game, a nine-point margin, with 9:50 to play. Junior
Derrick Strong (St. Louis, Mo.) netted the first six points of the run for Post, while Jackson and Krischer added three-point baskets. Following the Krischer triple, Post led 54-45.
Molloy responded to Post's spurt with a 14-3 run of its own to grab a 59-57 lead with 3:40 to play in regulation. However, Wilcox scored five consecutive points to give the Eagles a 62-61 advantage with 2:07 remaining.
Petrucelli scored the final six points of the game for Molloy, including a pair of free throws with 12 seconds left to secure the victory for the host Lions. Krischer took a three-pointer for a chance to tie with four seconds to play, but it did not fall.
For the game, Molloy shot 40.3 percent from the field and Petrucelli netted a game-high 24 points. Post was held to just 31.7 percent shooting from the field and went 10-for-30 from distance. Individually, Jimmy Nolan chipped in 17 points and seven rebounds for the Lions and junior
Jerry Cummings (Queens, N.Y.) grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds for Post.
The Eagles will return to the hardwood Saturday afternoon when they take on Queens to wrap up play at the Molloy Tip-Off. Game time is slated for 4 p.m. at Quealy Gymnasium.
