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Borough of Manhattan Community College Athletics

14-15 mbb champs
83
Bronx CC BRONXMBB 17-10(5-5)
91
Winner BMCC BMCCMBB 25-3 (10-0)
Bronx CC BRONXMBB
17-10(5-5)
83
Final
91
BMCC BMCCMBB
25-3 (10-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Bronx CC BRONXMBB 41 42 83
BMCC BMCCMBB 45 46 91

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | By Andrew Capitelli (BMCC Sports Information)

#4 BMCC Men’s Basketball Wins CUNYAC CC Championship

The Panthers defeated Bronx 91-83 to clinch their first conference championship since 2007

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

NEW YORK, NY| The #4 Borough of Manhattan Community College men's basketball team earned its first CUNY Athletic Conference Community College championship since 2007 after defeating Bronx Community College 91-83 inside BMCC Gym on Friday evening. The Panthers, who posted a 10-0 regular-season conference record, improve to 25-3 on the season and head into next weekend's Region XV Tournament as the #1 seed.

In a game that had 11 lead changes and seven ties, BMCC found a way to outlast a high-scoring Bronx side that boasted a 16-9 (5-5 CUNYAC) record coming into the tournament. The two sides literally went point-for-point the first seven minutes of the game until BMCC built a 27-19 lead at 10:03 of the first. The Panthers would continue to rally and expand their lead to 17 points (41-27) after an electrifying dunk by Jonathan Jones at 3:58. But Bronx rallied to score 17 of the half's final 21 points, and on the heels of a Karon Williams three pointer at the buzzer, the Broncos headed into the break down just 45-41.

BMCC would score the second's first bucket, but it was Bronx who found the early momentum, and at 14:25 a Yohan Almonte three ball put the Broncos up 53-51, which was their first lead since 17:03 of the first half.

From there on out it was pure pandemonium inside BMCC Gym. Both sides traded leads by the minute despite mounting foul trouble for both.

Nevertheless, the Panthers found their breakthrough at 4:47 when tournament MVP Joseph Ojo stormed to the basket and buried a left-handed layup with two Broncos breathing down his back. Bronx could not equalize on the ensuing possession, and after fouling Ojo, who buried one foul shot, forward Lowell Stevens expanded the BMCC lead to five (81-76) with a layup of his own at 2:46.  

Thereafter the Panthers buckled down to suffocate the Bronx offense en route to a 91-83 victory.

Ojo's MVP performance saw him score a team-high 18 points on top of six rebounds and five assists. Kenneth Coar (10 points, nine rebounds) and Elijah Bryant (14 points, five assists and four boards) were also named to the All-Tournament Team.

Yet it was the emergence of Justin Manon that may have sealed this seemingly fateful victory for the Panthers. The sophomore shot 4-6 from three, notching 14 crucial and timely points for BMCC.

Head coach Nolan Adams led his side to victory in only his second season at the helm, and it meant a lot for him to win with such a special group of young men.

"This team has such a strong bond and each and every one of them played for each other. They're real great kids and I'm so glad we had the opportunity to win such a great tournament together."
 
BMCC held advantages all across the board, including in overall shooting percentage (43.5%-40.3%) and bench points (31-24), but Bronx did not have an answer for BMCC's big three of Coar, Akeem Williams and Jericho Cherisma. The Panthers out-rebounded the Broncos 54-33 and also out-scored their opponents 22-7 off second-chance points.

From one tournament to another, BMCC will travel out to Suffolk County Community College in Selden, NY next weekend to compete in the NJCAA Region XV D-III Tournament. The Panthers, the #1 seed, will face the #8 seeded Rockland Community College in the quarterfinals at 5:00 PM on Friday, February 27. 

As always, check back on BMCCAthletics.com for the latest news and developments surrounding the BMCC Panthers. Also follow us on Facebook and Twitter at @BMCCAthletics for up-to-the-minute stories and in-game updates.  
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