JAMAICA, NY-- (www.YORKATHLETICS.com) Hosting a postseason matchup for the first time in three seasons, fourth-seeded York College men's basketball run at a CUNYAC crown ended Saturday afternoon, falling in an 86-84 first-round thriller to fifth-seeded John Jay College Bloodhounds (10-16) inside York College Gymnasium.

How it Happened

• Jamir Stewart and Gozie Chinegwundoh started hot for their respective teams, with Stewart canning two triples for the Bloodhounds and Chinegwundoh providing all of York's five points.
• John Jay took a three-point advantage (14-11) at the 14:21 mark following another Stewart basket.
• Joshua Jackman then sparked a 7-1 Cardinal burst to give them a three-point edge (18-15).
• Trading baskets, Keyshawn Miller's layup for the Bloodhounds with 10:54 on the clock leveled the score at 23. 
• York then started to take control, utilizing an extended 16-5 blitz to lead by a game-best 11 points (39-28). Chinegwudoh continued his strong half by contributing to half of the team's scoring. 
• John Jay responded immediately with a 13-0 burst to go up by 41-39. Stewart's triple at 4:16 capped off the surge.
• The crisp offensive display for both squads continued the rest of the half, with the Cardinals clinging to a 51-50 edge at the break. 
• Jonte Wallace announced himself early in the stanza, as his three consecutive layups extended York's advantage to seven (59-52).
• The Bloodhounds once again answered the call, generating nine consecutive points, retaking a two-point lead (61-59) with 14:34 remaining.
• The back-and-forth continued, and Christopher Smith's three-point play helped the Cardinals go up by four (74-70) at 10:17.
• John Jay's defense started to tighten up, holding York to three points in the next 5:57 of action on the way to an 81-77 edge.
• The Bloodhounds pushed it to six (85-79) after a pair of free throws from Alsseny Diallo with 3:23 left in the contest.
• Making one final push, the Cardinals buckled down on defense, got baskets from Wallace and Smith, and had Jaidan Johnson on the line with 14 seconds on the clock with a chance to tie (85-83).
• After making the first one, the guard hit the front rim on his second attempt.
• Stewart went 1-2 on his subsequent foul shots, giving York one final chance.
• In the end, Johnson's final-second layup came up short, as John Jay triumphed 86-84. 

Leading the Cardinals

• Playing in all 40 minutes, Jackman poured in a team-high 24 points (9-15 FG, 4-of-7 3FG, 2-of-2 FT) and hauled in 13 rebounds (11 defensive).
• This was the forward's fourth double-double of the campaign.
• Wallace closed out his impressive two-way season with 16 points, nine rebounds, and team-bests in assists (7) and steals (6).
• Chinegwundoh tallied an efficient 13 points (5-of-7 FG, 3-of-4 3FG).
• Malakai Clark contributed 12 points, four rebounds, and three assists.
• Smith added nine points, and Johnson distributed a team-leading five assists.

For John Jay

• Stewart led all scorers with 25 points (7-of-11 FG, 5-of-8 3FG, 6-of-7 FT) and chipped in with four assists.
• Miller stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points (7-of-13 FG), 11 rebounds, five assists, six steals, and two blocks.
• Aidony Nivar helped out the offensive cause with 15 points (5-of-12 FG, 4-of-4 FT). Adrien Kopec totaled nine points, six rebounds, and matched Miller's five-assist mark.

Inside the Box Score
York connected on 47 percent (31-of-66) of its field goals, canned a season-high nine three-point baskets, and shot 59.1 percent (13-of-22) from the charity stripe. John Jay shot 53.6 percent (30-of-56) from the floor, 47.4 percent (9-of-19) from downtown, and 68 percent (17-of-25) from the free throw line. Down low, the Cardinals had the edge in rebounds (38-32), paint points (40-34), and second chance scoring (14-6). It was an even game ball-handling-wise, as both teams accumulated 18 assists, and York had a slim margin in points off turnovers (18-17). Defensively, the Bloodhounds had a 4-1 advantage in blocks.  

York College graduates a three-member class consisting of Bryan Godette (2024-26), Benjamin Grant (2024-26), and Christopher Smith (2025-26) as they look to continue momentum under third-year head coach Clarence Emengo.

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