GARDEN CITY, NY – The College of Saint Rose roared out of the locker room after allowing a 13 point, first half lead to evaporate to hand Molloy College a 78-71 defeat in the second day of action at the Adelphi Holiday Classic this afternoon. The Golden Knights outrebounded the Lions (2-6) by a 15-3 margin on the offensive glass that led to a 21-4 advantage in second chance points. Saint Rose also turned 21 Molloy miscues into 24 points.

The Golden Knights (9-2) used an 18-3 run with five minutes gone in the second stanza that transformed a 48-46 lead into a comfortable 66-49 margin with 7:48 to go. Molloy pulled to within six on two occasions in the final minute, but Saint Rose was really never threatened following its outburst.

Junior guard Rob Gutierrez led the team's scoring parade for the fifth time this year with 25 points. Sophomore guard Andre Pope tossed in 15 points to go with seven rebounds and five assists, while junior forward Sheldon Griffin scored all 12 of his points after halftime. He also finished with seven rebounds and a season-high four assists.

Molloy freshman guard John Petrucelli led all scorers with 29 points, while sophomore guard Jimmy Nolan and senior forward Brian Hutchinson tossed in 12 each. Hutchinson also hauled in 15 boards, all off the defensive backboard.

Pope ignited the Saint Rose surge with a 3-pointer that made it a 51-46 affair with 14:52 remaining. Three minutes later, Gutierrez finished off a Pope steal to push the advantage to double-digits, 59-48. Griffin then capped it by finishing in the paint with 7:49 to go.

The outcome initially appeared to be decided in the early going. Saint Rose went on an 11-0 run midway through the first half that transformed a 14-12 lead into a 25-12 advantage with 9:02 remaining following a fast break layup by freshman guard Kareem Thomas, who wound up with five points, three assists and a pair of steals. However, Molloy held the Golden Knights scoreless throughout the final four minutes that allowed them to walk into the locker room tied 35-35 at the break.

Fortunately, the Golden Knights reasserted themselves at the start of the second half and this time did not allow their lead to get away from them.

Saint Rose is now off until the New Year. The Golden Knights return to action on Sunday, January 2 for a 3:30 pm Northeast-10 Conference game at American International in Springfield. Molloy meanwhile is idle until Wednesday, January 5 when the Lions will head to Dobbs Ferry, NY for a 7:30 pm East Coast Conference tilt at Mercy College.

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