Saint Michael’s overcame a seven-point halftime deficit to upend the Adelphi University men’s basketball team 79-69 earlier today on the Purple Knights’ home floor.
Senior Duane Morgan and freshman Michael Coffey combined for 45 points as the Panthers (4-16/1-13 NE-10) connected for 11 3-pointers. Justin Jenkins came off the bench for 11 points, four rebounds and four steals.
Saint Michael’s (13-6/9-5 NE-10) outrebounded Adelphi 52-20 that went towards 21 second-chance points. Greg Grippo and Matt Bonds scored 16 points each on reserve duty for the Purple Knights while Bonds added 14 rebounds. James Cambronne and Mike Thompson each recorded “double-doubles” with 12 points and 10 boards and 15 points and 13 rebounds respectively.
The Brown and Gold grew a lead as large as 16 points with 10:06 remaining in the first half as Coffey scored 15 of his points in the first half behind 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. Adelphi also generated 11 points off turnovers to go into the half up 40-33. Saint Michael’s stayed within striking distance thanks to 28 rebounds that included nine offensive boards.
The Panthers continued to hold a 15-point lead early in the second half after a Coffey jumper with 12:12 left in the game. However, the Purple Knights ran off a 19-2 run and grab the advantage at 62-60 with less than six minutes on the clock. Adelphi even the score twice more before the hosts scored 15 of the last 20 points to secure the victory.
