SPARKILL, N.Y. - The Pace University Men's Basketball team fell to the Molloy Lions on Saturday, 59-57. The Setters are now 0-2 on the season, while the Lions improve to 1-0.
The Setters started hot out of the gate as junior
Shelton Mickell knocked in a three and a pair of free throws in the game's first three minutes. The Setters remained hot, jumping out to an 18-4 lead in the contest behind a pair of
Mike Demello three-pointers.
The offense went cold toward the back end of the first half for the Setters, allowing Molloy to climb their way back into the contest. Freshman
Victor Jusino helped to re-spark the offense with a layup at the 9:40 mark and with the Setters trailing by one, Pace rallied for six points in the final 3:47 of the half. A
Kyle Pearson three-pointer with 1:56 remaining in the first half gave the Setters a 28-25 lead. After each team added another field goal, Pace entered the locker room up 30-28.
Similar start to the second half as three-pointers by Pearson and Demello in the first 48 seconds of play forced an early Molloy timeout. After both teams traded buckets for the next few minutes, senior
Khalil Brown scored the next two baskets of the game to put Pace ahead 45-34.
Molloy rallied with an 11-2 run for the Lions until Demello put an ended the run with a layup at the 7:34 mark to help Pace pull ahead by four. Up 51-47 with 6:29 remaining in the game, Molloy sparked a 7-0 run to put them ahead 54-52. Freshman
Bryan Rivers connected on a layup with 1:59 to cut the deficit to two points. Following a Molloy bucket, Pace found themselves down four points until Mickell added a clutch layup with 46 seconds remaining to close the gap to 59-57. However, the Setters were not able to mount the comeback as a last second heave by Pearson went wide.
Mickell led Pace with 16 points, eight rebounds, and three assists in the contest. Demello was the only other Setter to hit double figures, scoring 14 with four rebounds and a pair of assists. Pearson added eight points and a team-high 10 rebounds while Rivers chipped in five points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
Pace returns to action on Sunday when they take on Saint Thomas Aquinas in the final day of the STAC tournament. Opening tip will be held at 6:00 p.m.
