NEWARK, N.J. – A late rally by the York College men's basketball team fell short and the Cardinals fell to Rutgers-Newark University, 66-60, in the quarterfinals of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Metro Division Championship. 
 
The loss officially ends the 2014-15 season for York.  The Cardinals finish with an even record of 14-14.  Rutgers Newark (19-9) moves on the semifinal round on Saturday.
 
After a close game throughout, Rutgers-Newark opened up a 60-51 lead with just 1:29 to go and it looked like they had the game wrapped up. But York got a three-pointer from Carl Franklin Green, a quick turnover an then another three-pointer from Ryan St. John, cutting the deficit to 60-57. 
 
The Cardinals then forced another turnover thanks to a Cyril Reid steal and had an opportunity to tie the game with 37 seconds left.  But on the ensuing possession, a Green shot was blocked by RNU's Jordan McDaniel.  With the shot clock turned off, York was forced to foul. The Scarlet Raiders then drained their free throws to seal the win.
 
York had a balanced attack in the loss with four players reaching double figures in points. Jaron Williams had 16 points, while Green and Reid each netted 13 points. St. John finished with 11 points off the bench.
 
Rutgers-Newark was led by McDaniel, who had a game-high 17 points on 5-of-7 shooting. David Azoroh added 13 points.  RNU moves on to Saturday's semifinal where they will take on New York University.
 
The Cardinals—the #7 seed in the tournament—got off to a fast start and looked poised to pull off an upset against the second-seeded Scarlet Raiders.  York drained three shots from long range in the early going to take a 16-7 advantage.  However, that hot shooting would not last, as York finished the night 8-of-27 from three-point range.
 
RNU slowly cut into the York lead and moved ahead on a McDaniel jumper with 1:55 to go in the half. They would close the half with a 28-24 advantage.  In the second half, York briefly moved back ahead thanks to a 7-0 run, highlighted by a St. John three-pointer and a Rashaan Bailey lay-up, that gave the Cardinals a 39-38 lead with 11:19 left.
 
However, York never held the lead again. McDaniel connected on a three-pointer on the next possession to put his team ahead and Rutgers-Newark was able to hold off York the rest of the way.
 
Tonight's game was the final collegiate contest for Williams, Reid, Green, Du'Quan Lawson, and Terell Roper.  With so many key players on the way out, York will be recruiting hard this off-season in hopes of having another successful season in 2015-16.