PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – Beginning their 2021-22 campaign, the Pace University men's basketball team posted a 73-67 win over Molloy College on Saturday afternoon.
Trailing 29-21 with seven minutes remaining in the first half, the Setters flipped the script courtesy of a 20-6 run. Pace would go on to hold the lead for the entirety of the final 21:59 of regulation.
Junior
Adeleye Oyekanmi (Staten Island, NY/Curtis) came up with one of the biggest plays of the game late in the second half. Following a tough offensive rebound, the Staten Island native recorded an old-fashioned three-point play to give Pace a 64-60 edge with 5:15 left in the game.
Another clutch basket came from senior
Marc Dadika (Saddle Brook, N.J./Saint Mary's Rutherford), who put in a layup to give the Setters a 69-65 lead with 1:34 remaining in the contest.
The Blue and Gold's victory featured a dominant performance on the boards. Pace's 47-31 rebounding edge, along with a 40-28 points-in-the-paint advantage consistently set the tone.
The Setters were also strong defensively, forcing Molloy to shoot just 37 percent from the floor.
Individually,
Austin Gilbertson (Etters, Pa./Trinity) neared a double-double with seven points and 11 rebounds while also recording a team-high five steals.
Junior
Christian Adams (New Haven, Conn./Hamden Hall) served as Pace's top-scorer with a career-high 17 points, to go along with eight rebounds and three blocks.
Dominick Cristiano (Valhalla, N.Y./Kennedy Catholic/Greens Farm Academy) and Dadika also reached double figures with 12 and 11 points respectively. Cristiano chipped in eight boards in the game as well.
Up Next
The Setters return to action on Sunday afternoon when they host Chestnut Hill College at 4 p.m.
