ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. — D'Youville men's basketball secured a hard-fought 86-80 victory over No. 4 Molloy University in the first round of the 2026 ECC Men's basketball Tournament at Bob Houlihan Gymnasium on Wednesday night. 

The game commenced with a closely contested first half, characterized by frequent lead changes and ties. The Saints took an early advantage with a three-pointer from Justin Moore at 18:03, contributing to five total lead changes in the period. Despite a strong effort, including a pair of three-pointers from Elisha Warren, the Saints trailed by two at the end of the half, with Molloy leading 38–36.

D'Youville surged ahead with a pivotal run in the second half, turning a 48-48 tie into a 57-48 advantage by 13:10. This momentum was fueled by Moore's fast-break dunk and Warren's three-point play. Molloy attempted to respond, but the Saints' balanced scoring and defensive efforts, including a key block by Nathan Andrice, maintained the lead. D'Youville closed the half strong, securing a 50-point half and ending the game with an 86-80 victory.

Warren led the scoring with 24 points, including five three-pointers, and added 10 rebounds. Moore also scored 24 points, with three shots made from beyond the arc. Maxence Massadila contributed 16 points and recorded six assists. Dawson Matsell added seven assists and collected seven rebounds.

The Saints will move onto the semifinals of the 2026 ECC Men's Basketball Tournament, where they will face top-seed Daemen University on Saturday, March 7th, at 5:00 p.m. at Lumsden Gymnasium.