Strong First Half Shooting Carries Men's Basketball Over Queens, 71-62, In ECC Semifinal
Box Score
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (March 6, 2010) – C.W. Post captured a 71-62 win over Queens College Saturday evening at the Pratt Recreation Center to advance to its third straight East Coast Conference Men's Basketball Championship final, which will be played Sunday afternoon at 2:30 p.m.
C.W. Post extends its home win streak to 43 games and improves to 23-5 overall. Queens ends its season with an 18-11 final record.
Senior forward
Nemanja Jokic (Bronx, N.Y.) scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed six rebounds for the Pioneers.
The Pioneers, led by freshman guard
Jonathan Kohler (Bordentown, N.J.) with 14 first half points, commanded a strong lead during the final 10 minutes of the first half and built its lead as high as 18 points (42-24) with 39 seconds to go.
Queens' offense came out of the break strong and used a 17-4 run to tie the game at 46-all with 13:13 on the clock. Sophomore guard Edil Lacayo (Bronx, N.Y.) banged in three trifectas during the surge to help the Knights climb back into the game.
The Pioneers regained the lead and was up by four (50-46) before senior guard Khaleef Allicott (Brooklyn, N.Y.) scored on two short jumpers to tie things up again.
C.W. Post responded when Jokic converted a traditional three-point play at 10:06 to start a 9-1 run for the Pioneers and boosted their lead to 12 (63-51) with 3:28 left in the regulation.
Queens came within five points (63-58) after a long three from junior guard Anderson Labase (Brooklyn, N.Y.) at 1:38, but it would not be enough to overtake the Pioneers' lead.
Senior guard Steven Mears (Middle Island, N.Y.) scored the game's final basket with a layup at the 6-second mark.
C.W. Post completed the game shooting .419 (26 of 62) from field goal range and held a 43-37 advantage on the boards. Queens shot .418 (23 of 55) from the field.
Kohler and senior guard
Gil Montalvo (Astoria, N.Y.) each chipped in 14 points toward the winning cause. Montalvo grabbed eight boards off the glass and dished out six assists with one steal.
Junior forward Akim Neverson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) led the Knights with 19 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal. Anderson finished the game with 14 points while Lacayo and Allicott scored 12 and 10, respectively. Allicott also pulled down 10 rebounds to register a double-double.