Box Score
OAKDALE, N.Y. (Dec. 4, 2010) – The Dowling Golden Lions used 27 points off of 19 turnovers to take down the C.W. Post Pioneers during today's East Coast Conference regular season game, 86-73. Junior guard Stefan Bonneau (Middletown, N.Y.) led the Pioneers with 23 points.

Even though the Golden Lions did put in a field goal within the last 8:17 of play, the team converted 16 free throws during that time to keep distance on the Pioneers, going 20 for 30 from the stripe during the second half. Leading scorer John Merchant, who finished the game with 19, went perfect from the free throw line with all eight of his attempts. 

Dowling went into the locker rooms at halftime with a 41-34 edge after Corwin Austin converted on an offensive put back after John Malone missed on his own three point attempt. Malone was the team leader for the Golden Lions on both sides of the court as he turned in ten points during the half while also controlling the Pioneers with four steals and two blocks. Senior forward Aaron Hall (Syracuse, N.Y.) kept the Pioneers within striking distance during the first half with his eight points on four field goals.

It was during the second half that Bonneau took the scoring duties for C.W. Post as he scored 18 of 23
points in the final half, including five for 10 from beyond the arc during the half. Hall also kept up his strong play with contributing ten more points to give him a total of 18 on the day. He also controlled the glass with eight rebounds in the half, finishing with nine and one shy of a double-double.

However, Merchant led the Golden Lions with his 14 in the second half to keep the lead safely in the hands of his team. C.W. Post was not able to take advantage of the Dowling cold spell from the field and build on the opportunity, as the team dropped its 58 percent first half shooting down to 39 percent in the second half. 

Dowling used four players being in double figures to balance its scoring, led by Merchant's 19. The balance was less obvious on the side of the Pioneers as Hall and Bonneau combined for 41 points in the game. Dowling's eight blocked shot also kept the Pioneer offensive attack at bay. 

Next on the schedule for the Pioneers is a home match-up with Northern Boulevard rival New York Tech. C.W. Post will enter the game with a 3-3 record, while 1-1 in the ECC, trying to push both records over the .500 mark. Tip-off is schedule for 7 p.m. on Wednesday Dec. 8.