ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. - The Daemen College men's basketball team dropped a close road contest at Molloy College, 78-69, at Quealy Gymnasium this evening. With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 4-5 (1-3 ECC) on the season while the Lions improved to 3-7 (2-2 ECC) overall.
 
The two teams traded baskets throughout the beginning of the game until Molloy slowly made a gap by the end of the first half leading Daemen, 40-28, at halftime.

The Wildcats didn't give up though as they fought their way back into the game and eventually found themselves up by one, 53-52, at the 12:08 mark after a three-pointer from senior guard Casey Sheehan (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Athena). The hosts quickly reclaimed the lead, however, as they went on a 14-4 run which was capped by a layup from John Petrucelli, making the score 66-57.

The Wildcats still had some fight left in them as they tied the score 68-68 on a layup from junior forward Gerald Beverly (Rochester, N.Y./Gates Chili) assisted by Kadeem Johnson (Syracuse, N.Y./Henninger) with under four minutes left.
 
Molloy then scored ten of the last eleven points of the game to provide the final margin.

Both teams were plagued by poor shooting in the game, as Daemen went just 25-for-63 (40-percent) from the field, while Molloy went 29-for-70 (41-percent). The hosts held a 22-5 advantage in points off the bench while Daemen out-rebounded the Lions 49-38.

Petrucelli led the way for Molloy as he recorded a team-high 28 points and added eight rebounds, four assists, and seven steals. Charles Marquardt IV, who came into the game averaging about four points per game, erupted for 17 points, while teammates Matt McLeod and Jaylen Morris combined for 21 points and nine boards.

Three Wildcats scored in double figures as Beverly and senior Uchechi Ogbonna (Hicksville, N.Y./Erie CC) both contributed a double-double to the Daemen cause. Beverly had 19 points and 16 boards while Ogbonna added 17 points and 16 rebounds. Sheehan also added 15 points, three assists, and three steals for the Wildcats.

The Wildcats return to action Sunday (Dec. 22) when they will take on Queens College, another East Coast Conference opponent.  The game tips off at 1:00 p.m. at the Fitzgerald Gymnasium.