JERSEY CITY, NJ— Sophomore Marcel Esonwune (Lagos, Nigeria/ Marist Brothers) put together one of the greatest single game performances in York College history but it was not enough as the Cardinals dropped their season opener, 78-74,to New Jersey City University Saturday afternoon. Esonwune netted a career-high 38 points on a 17-21 shooting, tied a career high with six blocks, pulled down 15 boards and had three steals for York.
Esonwune's 38 points easily surpassed his previous career-high of 23 set last season. He also finished just five points shy of the Cardinals single-game scoring record of 43 which was set by Elliot Bruce on January 16, 1987.
The season opener was sloppy due to a combined 56 turnovers by both teams. New Jersey City would capitalize on York’s mistakes by outscoring them off turnovers by a 39-18 margin. Two consecutive turnovers by the Cardinals with 1:05 left in the game was the deciding factor to propel the Gothic Knights to victory.
York was also undone by poor free throw shooting. The Cardinals shot just 40 percent from the line, while NJCU shot 83.3 percent from the charity stripe.
The Cardinals largest lead in the game came with 55 seconds left before half-time when Forward Michael Smith (Kingston, Jamaica / Covenant Christian) converted on a foul shot making the score 40-32 at intermission.
With 12:08 left in the game New Jersey City University would takes its first lead in the second half when forward Taquan Abdullah slashed to the baskets to make the score 48-46. The lead would not last long because Esonwune would tip-in a shot with 9:11 on the clock to help York regain a lead of 53-51. However, a clutch three by the Gothic Knights’ Rashawn Smalls with 8:43 left in game would enable NJCU to regain control of the lead for the rest of the game. The three point play made the score 57-54 in the Gothic Knights favor who than went on to win the game by the final score of 78-74.
Cardinals guard Ryan Exum (Bronx, New York / Truman / Hostos CC) finished the game with 10 points, eight steals and eight assists. Junior guard Nahum Verna (Port-au-Prince, Haiti / Hillcrest) contributed with 12 points, two assists, two steals and two rebounds. Smalls and Kyle Ingram each netted 23 points to lead NJCU. Josh Lopez chipped in ten points.
The Cardinals (0-1) next game will be November 21, 2008 against Hartwick in the SUNY New Paltz Tip-Off Classic.
