FLUSHING, N.Y. – Opening the month of February inside Fitzgerald Gymnasium, the Queens College men's basketball team welcomed Molloy University Lions for an East Coast Conference matchup on Wednesday evening.
Junior guard
David Teele (Harlem, N.Y.) led the Knights with a team-high 16 points, as Queens battled through six ties and seven lead changes. After erasing a 16-point second-half deficit and tying the game late, the Knights' comeback bid came up short following a decisive Molloy run, falling 83-74.
GAME RECAP
The opening half was a tightly contested affair, with both teams trading baskets and momentum throughout.
Trailing 19-16 at the 7:02 mark, Queens responded with an 8-2 run behind balanced scoring to grab a 24-21 lead with 5:14 remaining.
Molloy answered with a 6-0 spurt to reclaim the advantage, 27-24, before a three-pointer from rookie forward
Jawuan Smith (Mastic, N.Y.) tied the game at 27-27 with 3:46 left in the half.
With the score knotted late in the half, the Lions used a 5-0 run to seize momentum. Queens continued to rely on balanced scoring but entered halftime down four, 42-38.
Queens opened the second half strong, with senior forward
Tahj-Malik Campbell (Philadelphia, PA) helping the Knights pull within two, 46-44, at the 17:04 mark.
Molloy quickly responded, however, using a 14-0 run to build its largest lead of the night at 60-44 with 13:31 remaining.
The duo of Teele and junior guard
Williams Guzman (Corona, N.Y.) combined for nine points as Queens began to chip away at the deficit.
With Molloy ahead 69-58 at the 9:55 mark, Teele scored eight straight points to bring the Knights within four, 70-66, with 6:20 to play.
After Molloy briefly extended its lead back to eight, Queens forced key turnovers down the stretch.
Junior guard
Dontae Prescott (Coney Island, N.Y.) and junior forward
Ahmad Galimore (Bronx, N.Y.) combined for eight points, tying the contest at 74-74 with 2:21 remaining.
However, the Lions closed the game on a 9-0 run over the final two minutes, defeating the Knights to the score of 83-74.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Teele recorded a career-best 16 points, six assists, two rebounds, one block, and one steal.
- Prescott tallied nine points, three assists, and two rebounds.
- Galimore notched nine points and two rebounds.
- Campbell recorded five points, a team-high 10 rebounds, two blocks, one steal, and one assist.
NEXT GAME
The Knights return to action on Sunday, February 15, traveling to Rochester to face Roberts Wesleyan University in ECC play. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
For the latest news on Queens College Athletics, follow the Knights at queensknights.com or via social media on Facebook (Queens College Athletics), X Athletics Main Account (@QCKnights), Queens College MBB (QCKnightsMBB) and Instagram (qcknightsny), men's basketball (qcmensbball).
