Men's Basketball

February 23, 2008

WATERBURY, Conn.-The Post University men's basketball team overcame a 10-point deficit at halftime, to defeat Molloy College, 82-71, in a non-conference game, on Senior Day, Saturday afternoon at the Drubner Center. Senior forward Peter Lawal (Uniondale, N.Y./Uniondale) scored 16 of his team-high 21 in the second stanza to lift the Eagles to the non-conference win.

Lawal, who just last week scored his 1,000^th collegiate point, connected on 10-of-16 shooting from the field and controlled six caroms, including five on the offensive glass. He led a balanced offensive output, as five scorers recorded double-digits for the Eagles (14-12, 10-5 CACC).

Junior forward AJ Reitter (Baltimore, Md./Franklin) chipped in with 16 points, on 6-of-12 shooting from the field. Reitter also knocked down four three-pointers, grabbed four rebounds, and had two assists and two steals. He inches closer to becoming the third player this season to score his 1,000^th point, as he needs 32 points, to join senior swingman Arthur Robertson (Far Rockaway, N.Y./Beach Channel) and Lawal who reached the milestone already this season, who had 10 points on 3-of-8 shooting.

Freshman guard Garvin McAlister (Norwich, Conn./N.F.A.) added 13 points, as he sank each of his six charity stripe opportunities. The freshman also grabbed three rebounds, dished out three assists and swiped four steals in 30 minutes off the bench for Post.

Junior forward Omar Robinson (Brooklyn, N.Y./Canarsie) had 11 points on three three-pointers.

Molloy (9-16, 7-11 ECC) came out firing early in the first half, led by 17 points from Vincent Falzone and 10 from Glenn Martin. Post struggled shooting the basketball in the first half, connecting on only 34.3 percent (12-35), but stared the second half scoring 11 of the first 13 points cut into a 40-30 lead at halftime by the Lions, trailing 42-41 at the 16:49 mark of the second half.

However, a 10-4 run, put the Lions up 52-45 with 14:27 left in the second half. Yet, a jumper from Lawal ignited a 10-0 run for the Eagles, as Robinson had two treys in that stretch for the Eagles, to take their first lead of the game at 55-52 with 12:22 remaining.

Girard Fitz tied it with a three-pointer on the next trip down the floor, but Post received the third three-pointer of the afternoon from Robinson and a three-pointer by Reitter to take a 61-55 lead with 9:16 to play.

A bucket by Lawal a few minutes later, gave the Eagles a 69-59 lead with 6:01 left in the game. Freshman Spencer Smith (White Plains, N.Y./White Plains) gave the Eagles their largest lead of the day at 71-59 at the 5:32 mark of the second half.

Molloy would cut the lead to 77-70 with 2:06 left after a lay-up by Martin, but was forced to foul and the Eagles made five of their last six foul shots, including four by McAlister to ice the game.

Post shot 52.8 percent from the field in the second half, knocking down 19-of-36 shots from the floor. After struggling from three-point range in the first half, the Eagles made 7-of-14 from distance in the second half to finish the night shooting 31 percent (9-29).

The Eagles scored 39 points off of 29 Molloy turnovers and held a 19-9 edge in second chance points, as the Eagles held a 19-8 edge in offensive rebounds. Molloy won the rebounding battle holding a slight 36-34 margin.

Molloy shot a blistering 60 percent (12-20) from the field in the second half, to finish the game at 56.3 percent (27-48). The Lions sank 6-of-12 from behind the arch. Falzone led all scorers with 24 points and 14 rebounds, while Martin added 20 points. Brian Hutchinson had 11 and Fitts chipped in with 10.

Before the game, the Eagles honored four seniors playing in their final regular season game at the Drubner Center. Senior guard Mike Brockington (Far Rockaway, N.Y./Mohawk Valley C.C.), senior guard Tyrone Dulin (Queens Village, N.Y./Bayside), Lawal, and Robertson, were each honored in a ceremony led by Head Coach Mike Donnelly.

The Eagles will close out the regular season on Wednesday, Feb. 27, as they travel to Dominican College for an 8 p.m. tip-off.