BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Nov. 22, 2014) - Down 52-39 more than midway through the second half, the LIU Post men's basketball team reeled off a 17-3 run to end the game Saturday, capped by a running lay-up from P.J. Torres (New Rochelle, N.Y.), to defeat Chestnut Hill, 56-55, on Day One of the LIU Post Thanksgiving Tournament at the Pratt Recreation Center.

The run lasted for eight minutes, as the Pioneers (2-2) rallied to win its second-straight game. Senior forward Charles McCann (Springfield Gardens, N.Y.) accounted for four of the first five points. Sophomore forward Greg Dotson (Abington, Pa.) followed with seven of the next nine points to close the gap to 56-55. Then, at the 21-second mark, Torres netted the eventual game-winning bucket, inciting a raucous crowd that was kept quiet for much of the contest.

In the first half, the Griffins (0-2) held a commanding 18-6 lead with over seven minutes left. The green and gold, however, anchored by one of Akosa Maduegbunam's (Hyde Park, N.Y.) four three-pointers on the afternoon, used an 11-2 burst to pull within 20-17. Torres and freshman forward Zachary Lydon (Pine Plains, N.Y.) each netted a lay-up to aid in the effort.

Yet, Chestnut Hill scored the final six points of the stanza to bring a 26-17 cushion into the locker room. Maduegbunam paced all LIU Post scorers in the half with five points on 2-of-6 shooting from the field.

The second half featured a showcase of makes from behind the arc by both sides. Though the Pioneers, who shot an impressive 55.6 percent (15-for-27) from the floor in the latter period, continued to chip away, the Griffins managed to re-gain their double-digit advantage via the three-ball.

The visitors owned as much as a 13-point lead (52-39) with 9:28 remaining in regulation, before LIU Post mounted a furious comeback that led to the victory.

Maduegbunam finished with a team-high 14 points, alongside four rebounds. Torres and Dotson poured in 13 points apiece. Torres also accumulated six boards, six assists and three steals, while Dotson pulled down five rebounds. McCann had nine points and six boards. Lydon provided five rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench.

Head Coach Erik Smiles and the Pioneers wrap up the 2014 LIU Post Thanksgiving Tournament on Sunday (Nov. 23), when they host Concordia at the Pratt Recreation Center at 3:15 p.m.