JAMAICA, NY --- (www.YORKATHLETICS.com) York College men's basketball opened their home portion of the 2024 slate Friday evening with a convincing 88-75 CUNYAC triumph over the Medgar Evers College Cougars (2-12, 0-3) inside York College Gymnasium.

How it Happened

• A back-and-forth affair early on, Austinson Cooke's hook shot gave York a 20-19 lead at the 12:56 mark of the first half. 
• Andre Evans Jr. converted a three-point play to pull the Cougars within two (28-26), the closest Medgar Evers got in the final 9:21 of the first half. 
• The Cardinals popped off a 13-0 run to stretch their edge to 15 (41-26).
• A triple by Abdul Seck gave York a first half-high 20-point (56-36) advantage. 
• Nicholas Guillen's jumper trimmed York's lead to send a 56-38 game into intermission.
• Trailing 60-38, the Cougars went on a furious 16-2 run to slice the deficit to eight (62-54) with 15:47 remaining in the game.
• Playing ahead for the final 32:56, the Cardinals utilized an extended 18-4 burst to extend their lead to a game-high 22 (80-58) at the 7:58 mark of the second frame.
• Chipping away, a 3-pointer by Michael Perez pulled Medgar Evers within 15 (80-65) with over six minutes remaining. 
• Standing firm, the Cardinals held the Cougars scoreless for the next 3:16, and a fastbreak layup by Olawale Kila gave York a comfortable 82-65 edge with 3:31 showing on the clock.
• The Cougars went on a 7-0 spurt to pull within 10 points (82-72) at the 2:07 mark, but York remained calm and closed out an 88-75 victory.

Leading the Cardinals

• Kila recorded his fifth double-double of the season (14th career) with 22 points (10-of-24 FG) and 11 rebounds (four offensive), even dishing out five assists and nabbing two steals.
• Aidony Nivar dropped a career-high 22 points (7-of-12 FG, 3-of-5 3FG, 5-of-5 FT) and hauled in four rebounds.
• Tyres Desinor added 12 points (6-of-11 FG), eight rebounds and three steals.
• Rohan Singh studded the stat sheet by chipping in 10 points, 10 dimes (season-best), eight rebounds and three steals.
• Cooke tied a career-high with eight points (4-of-5 FG) as Seck grabbed a career-best seven rebounds.

For Medgar Evers

• Guillen dropped game-leading 24 points (8-of-24 FG, 4-of-10 3FG, 4-of-4 FT).
• Joshua Jean-Pierre added 17 points (8-13 FG) and distributed four assists. Evans Jr. totaled 14 points (5-of-13 FG, 4-of-4 FT), four steals, and a team-high six assists.
• Jackson Batley also tallied four swipes.
• Dean Pejcinovic recorded a team-best seven rebounds.

Inside the Box Score
The Cardinals shot 49.3 percent (37-of-75) from the field, 33.3 percent (4-of-`2) from 3-point territory, and 83.3 percent (10-of-12) from the free-throw line. Medgar Evers shot 39 percent (30-of-77) from the floor, 23.1 percent (6-of-26) from downtown, and 90 percent (9-of-10) from the charity stripe.

Additionally, York won the battle of the boards (46-30) and outplayed the Cougars in assists (25-19), while Medgar Evers owned the edge in blocks (6-1) and steals (14-11). Utilizing their size, the Cardinals had more points in the paint (58-30) and second-chance points (15-3). Both squads amassed 20 fast break points, while Medgar Evers turned 19 Cardinals turnovers into 31 points. 

Up Next 
The Cardinals (3-10, 1-2 CUNYAC) hit the road Wednesday (Jan. 10) with a CUNYAC matchup against the City College of New York Beavers (8-5, 1-1 CUNYAC) starting at 7 p.m. inside Nat Holman Gymnasium.  Tune in with live stats and video by visiting yorkathletics.com/live.

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