By Zach Gewelb
The Queens College men’s basketball team’s losing extended to three when the Knights fell to Daemen College 81-70 Sunday in an ECC match in Flushing.
The loss dropped Queens to 5-10 on the season (3-5 ECC), while Daemen improved to 13-6 (6-2 ECC). The visitors used a strong first half to build a double-digit lead and kept the Knights at bay in the second half to secure the victory.
The Knights kept the game close early in the first, trailing by just one midway through the opening period. But the Wildcats’ offense went on a 25-14 run to build a 46-28 halftime advantage.
Red-shirt sophomore Jeff Redband played a key role in Daemen’s first-half rally, converting five of his nine three-point attempts to help pace the offense. Jay Sarkis contributed with nine assists in the game’s first 20 minutes as the Wildcats’ ball movement created open looks for the offense.
Daemen continued its onslaught in the second half, building its lead to as many as 22 points. But Queens never quit, using long-range shooting to cut its deficit to 13. The teams exchanged baskets before the Knights further cut into the lead late in the half to make the score 79-70.
But with just 30 seconds remaining, the Knights ran out of time to complete the comeback, as Daemen secured the 81-70 victory.
Senior Tyrone Hall led the Knights with 21 points in just 28 minutes. He drained four three-pointers and went a perfect 9-for-9 from the free-throw line in addition to recording eight rebounds and five assists.
Senior Simon Green was the only other Knight to score in double figures, recording 16 points on 4-of-10 shooting.
Darius Garvin, Andrew Sischo and Redband each had 17 points to lead the Wildcats. Sischo added 12 rebounds, Garvin pulled down six and Redband had seven.
The loss comes after Queens previously fell to Roberts Wesleyan, 72-60, last Friday. The losing streak started with a 99-81 loss to Bridgeport on Jan. 13.
Reach reporter Zach Gewelb by e-mail at zgewe
