Cardinals Hold on for Win over Hunter College
Box Score
JAMAICA, NY— The York College men’s basketball team held off a late rally by Hunter College and defeated the Hawks, 75-73, in a CUNY Athletic Conference match-up Wednesday night.
York led for the majority of the game and held a 73-67 advantage with 2:50 to play. However, the Hawks rallied to tie the game, at 73-73, with 0:42 seconds left after they converted three lay-ups in four possessions and held York scoreless for two minutes. However on York’s next possession, Nicholas Hamilton-Lopez (Middle Village, NY/ Pfeiffer University) was fouled, and with York being in the bonus, was sent to the line. Hamilton-Lopez drained both shots to take a 75-73 lead.
York was able to get a defensive stop on Hunter’s next possession and the Hawks were forced to foul Marcel Esonwune (Lagos, Nigeria/ Marist Brothers) to stop the clock. However, Esonwune missed both free throws and Hunter had a chance to tie the game with four seconds remaining. On the in bounds pass, Esonwune made up for the missed free throws and intercepted the pass, sealing the win for York.
For York, Omari Phipps (Laurleton, NY/ St. Johns Prep) scored a team-high 18 points and grabbed six rebounds and was a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line to lead the Cardinals. Hamilton-Lopez finished with 17 points and Rodney Bennett (Elmhurst, NY/ Chapparal) added 12. Esonwune paced York with ten points and eight boards.
Hunter’s Nicholas Flagg recorded a game-high 23 points to lead the Hawks.
York (7-12, 4-3 CUNYAC) will return to action on Wednesday when they host CCNY.
