WATERBURY, Conn. -- Post University Men's Basketball has started to find its groove in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference as the Eagles have won their third consecutive conference game, 81-72, on Tuesday night against Dominican (N.Y.), coming from behind in the second half, behind 21 points from junior forward Zion Lott.

THE BASIC

Post University 81, Dominican (N.Y.) 72

Post University (7-10, 5-3 CACC)

Dominican (N.Y.) (8-9, 5-5 CACC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
For a majority of the first half, it would be Dominican (N.Y.) in control of the contest as they led for nearly 15 minutes compared to just under four minutes for Post. Scoring would come at a premium in the early going, with junior forward Deng Akok and senior guard Tre Duncan getting the scoring started for the Eagles to take a 4-0 lead, as it would take almost six minutes for either side to eclipse 10 points.

Sophomore center Tyler Edore would get the Chargers to double-digits with his layup, giving them the lead, 11-9, at which point Dominican (N.Y.) never looked back in the first half, riding that momentum into halftime with a 35-31 lead. Senior forward Koi D. Kirk Jr. led the charge with 11 points on 3-for-7 shooting, hitting 5-of-6 free throws to help the Chargers to a 41.9% shooting half, going 13-for-31 with one three-pointer.

Post would shoot an identical 13-for-31 as the Chargers, but go 3-for-12 (25%) from long range to keep themselves within a couple of possessions. Leading the way for them was Lott with 13 points on 5-for-6 shooting, followed by six points from junior guard Ta'Quan Williams with a team-leading four rebounds, a category in which Post trailed 23-15.

Continuing their momentum into the second half, Kirk Jr. got the offense going again for the Chargers, connecting on a layup that sparked a quick 4-0 start, and eventual 10-point lead, 43-33, with 18:07 left in regulation. However, Williams looked to help the Eagles regain the momentum with a big three-point play, starting a 6-0 run to cut down the deficit to four points, 43-39.

Trailing by five still with 15:34 left, junior guard Chance Morrish hit a pair of free throws and Edore a layup to give Dominican (N.Y.) its first of two nine-point advantages before Post made another push on offense. Two free throws by Lott and a three-pointer from freshman Harry Scully would be the first wave of scoring, making it a four-point game again. Scully jump-started the game-tying 7-0 run with his bucket, tying it at 55 all following Duncan's three, with 9:26 remaining.

Only two more ties and three lead changes would occur for either side before Post pulled away for the victory as Akok and Duncan led Post on a 4-0 run following Kirk Jr.'s three that gave the Chargers the lead for the last time in the game, 62-61, at the 4:56 mark. After that, sophomore guard Elijah Peters pulled his team within a point, which was the closest they would be the rest of the night, as graduate forward Derrick Thomas II followed it up with four straight points. 

Taking the game, 81-72, Post's offense was led by four scorers in double figures, as following Lott's 21 points was Williams with 17 points, Duncan with 13 points, and Akok with 12 points for an Eagle team that finished 30-for-69 (43.5%) from the field. Kirk Jr. closed with a double-double, scoring 22 points with 15 rebounds, shooting 7-for-15 from the floor as one of three Chargers in double figures. Peters closed with 18 points, followed by Edore with 14 points. 
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Zion Lott led all Post University players in scoring with 21 points on 8-for-16 shooting with seven rebounds -- Lott has eclipsed 20 points in three games so far this season
• Koi D. Kirk Jr. closed with a double-double for Dominican (N.Y.) with 22 points and 15 rebounds in the loss for the Chargers
• At halftime this season, Post University is 5-0 when leading at halftime, while being 2-9 when trailing and 0-1 when tied
• Post University has won its last three home matchups against Dominican (N.Y.), dating back to the 2023-24 season, with this being the first of the three to be decided by more than six points

WHO'S NEXT
Heading on the road for a game, Post University will take on Felician University this Thursday at 8:00 PM. The Eagles saw their five-game winning streak against the Golden Falcons get snapped in their most recent matchup last February in a 77-51 loss.