AMHERST, N.Y. - Despite holding a lead after the first half, the LIU Post men's basketball team dropped a road contest to East Coast Conference-opponent Daemen by a score of 74-66 on Friday night at Lumsden Gymnasium.

The Wildcats (10-6, 4-2 ECC) jumped out to a 10-3 lead before the Pioneers (6-10, 4-2 ECC) answered with nine-straight points capped off by a Aary Bibens jumper to take their first lead at 12-10. 

The two sides would battle back-and-forth over the remainder of the first half, registering five ties but ultimately a triple by Jared Rivers with 31 seconds remaining gave the green and gold a 30-29 edge heading into the intermission.  Rivers tallied 13 of the Pioneers' first-half points, adding two assists and two steals in the frame as well. 

A trey by Darien Jenkins got the second-half scoring started, but the Wildcats proved too much for the green and gold as they pulled away for the 74-66 victory.

Rivers and Bibens led the Pioneers with 14 points apiece, while Kyle Doucette pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.

LIU Post held an advantage in second-chance points (14-5), bench points (25-20), rebounds (40-37), and blocks (5-3).

The Pioneers look to rebound when they head to Roberts Wesleyan on Sunday, Jan. 14. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.