BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Jan. 16, 2016) - The LIU Post men's basketball team bounced back Saturday with a 70-59 victory over Roberts Wesleyan College in an East Coast Conference match-up at the Pratt Recreation Center.
Trailing 23-22 late in the opening period, the Pioneers (13-4, 8-1 ECC) reeled off a 10-0 run in 2:32 to take a 32-23 lead with 1:53 remaining. Senior guard
Devon McMillan (Brooklyn, N.Y.) accounted for six of the points in the spurt. Red-shirt sophomore guard
Aary Bibens (Bennington, Vt.) capped it off with a lay-up.
In the second half, LIU Post, which owned a 32-26 cushion at the break, widened their advantage to double digits (43-33) just over four minutes in, on a three-pointer by senior guard
Dillon Burns (Staten Island, N.Y.).
However, Roberts Wesleyan (4-10, 1-7 ECC) fought back and closed the gap to a one-point game at the 11:34 mark. The Hawks knocked down three trifectas in a 13-2 run that made it a 47-46 contest.
The Pioneers held on though, using an 11-2 response in a stint of 2:45 to re-gain their 10-point edge (58-48) with 8:26 left. Junior guard
Jared Hall (South Orange, N.J.) bookended the spurt with three-pointers. Hall led all scorers with 15 points. Sophomore forward
Hunter Powell (Tustin, Mich.) and Bibens netted back-to-back lay-ups.
McMillan recorded a double-double in the win, collecting 11 points and 13 rebounds. He dished out four assists and rejected two blocks, as well. In addition to his game-high 15 points, Hall grabbed eight rebounds. Bibens and sophomore forward
Greg Dotson (Abington, Pa.) pitched in 11 points apiece. Junior forward
Barrington Alston (Wilmington, Del.) had nine rebounds and eight points.
LIU Post dominated the paint in the contest, outscoring Roberts Wesleyan, 34-14. It also capitalized off turnovers (18-5) and on second-chance opportunities (19-7).
Head Coach
Erik Smiles and the Pioneers now open a four-game road trip Wednesday (Jan. 20), when they travel to Washington, D.C. for a 7:30 p.m. opening tip at ECC nemesis University of the District of Columbia.