JAMAICA, N.Y.— A game that was closely contest throughout came down to the wire, but a pair of free throws by the City College of New York in the game's final seconds lifted them to a 67-65 win over the York College men's basketball team on Friday night.
With the game tied at 65-65, CCNY's Khalil Hamer drew a foul with just 12 seconds remaining and made both free throws. The Beavers then made a defensive stand on York's final possession to claim the victory.
CCNY got a game-high 18 points from David Solano, which included five three-pointers. Hamer had eight points and 13 assists.
Sasha Clarida added ten points off the bench.
York's
Rashaan Bailey continued to fill the stat sheet with 12 points, five assists and five steals.
Ryan Smart filled up the box score as well, with a team-high 16 points ,eight rebounds, three blocks and two assists.
The first half went back and forth with each team exchanging short runs. York scored the first five points of the game only to see CCNY score the next five. York then scored another five straight points and then lost the lead again shortly after, following a 10-3 CCNY run. A 9-0 York run followed a few minutes later giving York a 24-20 advantage, which was then erased by a 7-0 CCNY run. CCNY would go into the half with a narrow, 33-31 lead. CCNY's great outside shooting propelled them to the halftime lead, as they made six from long range. Solano had four of them.
CCNY got off to a hot start in the second half, scoring seven straight out of the gate, capping off the run with a Mark Richards jumper from the baseline. A Solano lay-up with 13 minutes remaining extended CCNY's lead to 13 points—its largest of the game.
York got back into the game thanks to its defense. Bailey drained a jumper and then forced a steal, leading to another Cardinals' bucket.
Ryan Smart had a highlight-reel block and then scored on the other end to cut the deficit to 51-45 with 11:22 to go.
Sasha Clarida's outside shooting cut the York deficit to 57-56 after he made a pair of three-pointers, prompting a CCNY timeout with 5:03 to go. York would tie the game at 60-60 on a pair of Smart free throws with three minutes left. After a timeout,
Ryan St. John drained a big three-pointer to put York ahead for the first time since early in the first half.
CCNY retook the lead on a made bucket and three free throws, before
Ryan Smart drained a mid-range jumper with under a minute to play to tie the game at 65-65.
After the Hamer free throws, York's
Taron Pascal attempted a game-tying jumper, but CCNY's defense forced him into a tough shot and the Cardinals came up short at the buzzer.
The loss drops York's record to 2-6, 0-2 CUNYAC. CCNY improves to 4-2, 1-1 CUNYAC. York returns to action on Tuesday when they visit Lehman College at 5 p.m.
