FLUSHING, N.Y. – Junior forward
Austin Mofunanya (Englewood, NJ/Dwight Morrow / Lincoln College of NE) recorded the first double-double of his Setter tenure on Saturday, helping the Pace University men's basketball team get its first win of the season with a 72-65 victory over Dowling College on the final day of the ECC/NE-10 Challenge, hosted by Queens College.
Mofunanya did most of his damage at the free-throw line, where he went 8-of-11 for the evening. He totaled 10 points and pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds in just 20 minutes on the court. Senior forward
Kyle Pearson (Woodbridge, NJ/Woodbridge / Fairleigh Dickinson University) turned in an impressive effort with 17 points and eight boards. He shot 8-of-14 from the field, and also added a block in the game.
The Setters fell behind by 13 points late in the first half on Saturday, as they trailed 36-23 after a layup by Dowling's Tristan Brown. Pearson responded with a three, kicking off an 11-0 run for the Setters that got them back within two. They kept even with the Golden Lions for the rest of the frame, heading into halftime trailing 38-36.
It did not take long for the Setters to get the upperhand in the second stanza. At the 17:50 mark, sophomore forward
Victor Jusino (Morris Plains, NJ/St. Peter's Prep) sank a layup to tie the game at 42-42. Freshman guard
Ryan Peterson (Wethersfield, CT/St. Thomas More) then nailed a three to give the Setters their first lead since the 16:24 mark of the first half. The two teams traded leads until they were tied again at 48-48 with 13:56 left to play. The Setters then went on a 17-7 run to take a 65-55 edge on the Golden Lions with under six minutes remaining.
Dowling got back within four with 50 seconds left after Michael Guzzardi succeeded on a pair of free-throw attempts. Sophomore guard
Mike Demello (Mohegan Lake, NY/White Plains) helped the cause with three free throws down the stretch to help the Setters hold on for a seven-point victory.
The win was the first in
Matt Healing's young tenure as head coach of the Setters, and the first of the season for a Pace squad looking to improve upon a five-win season just a year ago.
Peterson continues to impress in the early goings of his collegiate career, as he contributed 14 points and five boards on the evening. Sophomore guard
Bryan Rivers (West Windsor, NJ/Peddie School) came off the bench to add 11 points and six rebounds.
Dowling's Ryan Hickey tallied a game-high 18 points, while Guzzardi chipped in with 10 points and eight rebounds. Brown dished out a game-best five assists.
With its first win under its belt, the men's basketball team returns to the Goldstein Fitness Center for its home opener on Wednesday, Nov. 18, against Wilmington University (Del.). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
For all information regarding Pace University men's basketball log on to
www.PaceUAthletics.com and follow Pace men's basketball on Twitter (
@PaceMBB).
