Bridgeport, Conn. – Senior Charlie Marquardt (Rockaway Beach, N.Y.) posted a game-high 32 points in men's basketball's 89-82 win over the University of Bridgeport in the East Coast Conference Semifinals on Saturday (Mar. 4). Sophomore Curtis Jenkins (Farmingdale, N.Y.) just missed a double-double, totaling 21 points with eight rebounds.
The teams opened the contest trading scores, with the score being tied five times in the opening eight minutes. The University of Bridgeport pulled ahead to a 19-16 lead on a jumper from Carlos DeJesus (Bronx, N.Y.) The Lions responded with a 15-point run to go up 31-19 with just over seven minutes left in the opening half. Marquardt put up an additional four points to push Molloy ahead by as much as 14. UB closed the half on a 7-2 run to come within nine, 41-32.
The Purple Knights opened the second half on a 20-13 run to cut the Lions' lead to a mere two points. Marquardt and freshman Nick Corbett (Staten Island, N.Y.) combined for seven points to push Molloy back ahead 61-52 with just over 12 minutes left to play. UB continued to pressure the Lions, coming within four points on a jumper from Sharif Cobb (Harlem, N.Y.) with 9:16 on the clock. Foul shots from sophomore Mike Torre (Massapequa, N.Y.) put Molloy back in front 71-62 with 7:47 remaining in the contest. In the resulting minutes, the teams continued see-saw scoring with Bridgeport coming within two points, 79-77, with 2:16 to play. The maroon and white closed the contest going 10-of-10 from the foul line to seal the victory and secure their spot in the East Coast Conference Finals for the first time since 2000.
Marquardt's 32 points came on a 10-of-16 (62.5 percent) day in the field, sinking three of his five attempts from beyond the arc and going 9-of-9 from the charity stripe. The guard also nabbed a game-high four steals while chipping in three assists. Jenkins went 9-of-14 from the field, adding three steals and three helpers. Seniors Jaylen Morris (Amherst, N.Y.) and Mike Guzzardi (Mount Sinai, N.Y.) each finished in double-digits, totaling 14 and 11 points, respectfully. UB had five players finish in double-digits, led by 18 from Sam Joseph (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
The Lions will take on the Spartans of No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas on Sunday (Mar. 5) at 2:30 p.m. in Bridgeport, Conn.
Provided by the Molloy Sports Information Department.
