Box Score
NEW YORK, NY --- The York College men's basketball team saw its quest for a CUNYAC title come to an end Wednesday in the semi-finals of the CUNY/ Con Edison Basketball Championships held at the City College of New York. The Cardinals fell to division-rival Brooklyn College by a score of 79-68.
It will be the first time since the 2005 season that York will not be in the CUNYAC championship game. York had won titles in 2006 and 2007 and went to the finals in 2008. Brooklyn, meanwhile, will make its first finals appearance since the 1978 season and will be searching for its first crown since 1973. The Bridges will take on Baruch College, who defeated Lehman College in the other semi-final earlier in the evening.
The game was a see-saw battle in the early going with both teams exchanging leads. With York trailing 21-20, York went on a 7-0 ran capped off by a Nicholas Hamilton-Lopez lay-up, giving the Cardinals a 27-21 lead with 6:40 to go before halftime. Brooklyn quickly responded, however, and scored six unanswered to even the game up at 27-27. The Cardinals followed with another 7-0 run thanks to lay-ups by Marcel Esonwune and Omari Phipps and a three-pointer by Nahum Verna. Brooklyn would close the half strong, however, and cut the lead to three points, 40-37, going into the locker room.
The key to the Cardinals first half success was their shooting as they shot 60 percent from the field compared to Brooklyn's 41 percent.
Things turned in the second half, as Brooklyn made adjustments and outplayed the Cardinals. York lost its stroke, shooting just 25 percent from the field and 14 percent from three-point range in the second half. With 10:19 to play and York still holding on to a narrow, 58-57, advantage, the Bridges caught fire and went on an 11-3 run to take a 68-61 lead with 5:57 to play. They would not relinquish the lead the rest of the game.
The Cardinals had one final run in them and got back to within three points, 69-66, with 1:31 to play. On the York's next possession Verna had a good look at a three-pointer that would have tied the game, but the shot bounced out and the Bridges picked up the rebound with 1:13 to play. The Cardinals could not get any closer from that point as Brooklyn made its free throws in the final minute to extend its lead to 11 and seal the win.
“I've got to tip my hat to Brooklyn,” said head coach Ronald St. John. They played a great game and they really outplayed us down the stretch.”
CUNYAC Player of the Year Richard Jean-Baptiste led Brooklyn with 26 points, nine boards, four steals and three blocks. Tyshawn Russell paced the Bridges with 15 points.
For York, Esonwune registered a double-double, scoring 20 points and 11 boards, while also blocking four shots. Phipps finished with 14 points and five rebounds.
The season might not be over for the Cardinals as they will wait and see if their 14-13 record will be good enough to earn a bid to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament. The seeding for the ECAC Championships will be announced Monday afternoon.
