JAMAICA, N.Y.—There's an old sports cliché that it's hard to beat the same team three times in a season, and once again the York College men's basketball team proved that to be true, knocking off the City College of New York, 74-71, in the first round of the City University of New York Athletic Conference Tournament.
 
The Cardinals lost to the Beavers in both match-ups during the regular season, but earned the victory when it mattered most.  They did the same thing the previous two seasons, defeating the College of Staten Island after losing twice in the regular season.
 
York erased a 12-point first-half deficit to earn the victory to improve to 11-15 on the season.  They now advance to the quarterfinals where they will visit third-seeded Brooklyn College on Saturday, February 20 at 1:00 p.m.
 
York freshman Ryan Smart, who was snubbed as a CUNYAC All-Star earlier in the day, proved he was more than deserving, posting a line of 16 points, 15 rebounds, 3 blocks and 3 steals.  Senior Anthony Mason had his second-straight outstanding game, recording a double-double (17 points, 11 rebounds). Senior Rashaan Bailey chipped in 13 points and 9 rebounds and Chad Coachman recorded 13 points and 3 assists.
 
CCNY (13-13) was led by David Solano, who had 17 points. Khalil Hamer had 16 points.
 
The Beavers had the advantage in the early parts of the first half, taking an 18-14 lead with 10 minutes to go.  David Solano's hot hand gave CCNY the early lead, as he connected on his first four shots.
 
York responded with a 7-0 run to go ahead 21-18. Buckets by Smart and St. John and a three-point play by Mason put the Cardinals on top.
 
But CCNY caught fire shortly after, going on a 12-0 run to take a 35-23 advantage. Consecutive three's by Solano and Che McCoy capped off the run.
 
York was able to stay in the game thanks to its defensive pressure. They forced 12 turnovers in the first half and cut the deficit to six before the half, thanks to a 6-0 run that followed CCNY's run. However, CCNY overcame the turnovers by shooting 63.6 percent in the first half.
 
CCNY grabbed the momentum after the break thanks to a monstrous alley-oop by Mark Richard that put them up 43-35 with 17:20 to go, putting the crowd into a frenzy.  But Smart drained a couple of three pointers moments later that put York back on top 46-45. 
 
The two teams then went back and forth exchanging baskets until a 9-0 York run put the Cardinals on top 63-54. The run started with another three-point play by Mason and then followed with a bucket and then a three from well beyond the arc by Pascal.
 
The Cardinals then appeared to ice the game on yet another three-point by play by Mason, this time on a dunk, that put the Cardinals up 69-60 with just over two minutes to play.

York would need the extra cushion, because they appeared to ease up over the final two minutes and CCNY cut the deficit to just two points (71-69) after a Khalil Hamer steal led to an easy basket with just 34 seconds to go.
 
However, Coachman was fouled on York's ensuing possession and drained two clutch free throws. CCNY followed with another quick basket and then fouled Bailey.  Bailey would miss both free throws however, but grabbed his own rebound and dished it out to Coachman who was fouled again. Coachman made one to put his team up by three points with seven seconds left.  CCNY then dribbled the ball up court and got a good look from Hamer on a three, but his shot hit off the rim, to give the Cardinals the victory. 

"We played harder defense this time around," said York Head Coach Antoine Morris. "We must more pressure on them and were able to slow them down--and we stopped Solano in the second half"