JAMAICA, N.Y— A put-back by Baruch's Chimaechi Ekekeugbor with 22 seconds left gave the Bearcats a, 79-78, win over the York College men's basketball team on Wednesday night.

With under a minute to play, York was clinging to a one-point lead and needed to make a stop on defense.  The Bearcats missed two shots on the crucial possession of the game, but Ekekeugbor came up with offensive rebounds both times, and on the second one, he got an easy lay-up to pull the Bearcats ahead for good.

York had a chance to go home with a win. However, a sloppy final possession resulted in a difficult shot by Chad Coachman that was off the mark.

Ekeugbor was the star of the game. In addition to the final basket, he scored 29 points on 12-of-17 shooting, while adding 15 rebounds. 

Coachman finished with 21 points, nine assists and six rebounds, while Ryan Smart also netted 21 points, to go along with 14 rebounds.  Rashaan Bailey added ten points, while Sasha Clarida and Taron Pascal each finished with eight.

After trailing for most of the first half, York worked hard to get back in the game and eventually pull ahead late.  Trailing by six points midway through the second half, York got three pointers from Chad Coachman and Sasha Clarida to tie it up at 66-66 with 7:35 to go.

The two teams battled down the stretch and Clarida came up big on defense, forcing a steal on two straight possessions leading to easy York fast break points—the last of which put York up 78-76 with under three minutes to play.

However, York did not score for the final three minutes of action, which gave Baruch several opportunities to pull back ahead.

York got off to a slow start to start the game, and didn't make a field goal for the first three minutes of action, which allowed Baruch to open with a 7-0 advantage.  The Cardinals eventually found their rhythm and pulled ahead, 19-16, after a jumper by Ryan Smart with 11:22 to go in the half.  Baruch would pull back ahead, 31-27, following consecutive buckets from Ekekeugbor with 5:25 to go.  The Bearcats extended the lead to eight at the half (41-33), after closing with a bucket and a pair of free throws.

The disappointing loss drops York's record to 6-14, 3-8 CUNYAC, while Baruch improves to 11-8, 7-3 CUNYAC.

York will be off until next Tuesday, when they visit Brooklyn College at 7:15 p.m.