Brooklyn, New York – Fresh off knocking off No. 2 seed Hostos Community College the BMCC Men's Basketball was oozing with confidence heading into their first CUNYAC Championship matchup since 2018-19. The task in front of them was daunting against a top-seeded Queensborough Community College team off their first regular season title since 2007-08, sizzling after winning 14 of their last 16 games, including a 10-2 finish the regular season to be in a position to win the program's first Conference Championship since 2003.
 
The Panthers weren't fazed from the opening tip throwing the Kitchen sink at the Tigers and making them earn it for 40 minutes. Sophomore Jeremiah Cardi (New York, New York) had a chance to force an extra session with 14 seconds left but could not cash in as the Tigers were able to hold on for a 72-66 victory in the 2023 CUNYAC Community College Men's Basketball Championship at Kingsborough Gymnasium. The Tigers win their first conference title in 20 years with the win moving to 15-7 while the Panthers fall to 11-1.
 
Four of the five Panthers starters scored in double figures on the night, led by freshman Daniel Laffitte's (New York, New York) second straight double-digit scoring effort with a team-high 19 points with a team-best three triples, while classmate Jayden Jarrett (Bronx, New York) scored 16 points. Sophomores Adewale Fasanmi (Brooklyn, New York) and Cardi chipped in with 12 and 11 points, with Fasanmi missing his sixth double-double of the season by one rebound with a team-best tied nine in the contest. Freshman Leverson Tulien (Roslyn Heights, New York) also brought down a team-high tied nine rebounds and turned away a game-high three shots, while classmate Laffitte led the Panthers in steals with four.
 
Laffitte and Fasanmi also both were named to the CUNYAC Community College Men's Basketball All-Tournament Team.
 
The Panthers checked off all the boxes they needed for a winning effort dominating Queensborough in the Paint 44-26 and scoring 14 points off of 11 Tiger turnovers. Despite being outrebounded by one 35-34, the Panthers cashed in with 15 second-chance points, but the difference in the game was at the free throw line, where Queensborough outshot BMCC 81 percent (17-for-21) to 57.1 percent (8-for-14).

From the opening tip, this Championship final was a seesaw battle, with BMCC throwing the first blow with a solid first-half start to grab an early 20-13 lead, their largest of the night with eight points coming from Laffitte whose layup at 11:33 stretched the lead to seven. 

The Tigers would roar right back, exploding for a 16-0 run and outscoring the 25-7 over the final 11:32 while stretching their lead to the largest of the night, 13 at 3:51, with a three-point play from Anthony Walters. Walters buried a long three-pointer at the horn to complete the surge and give Queensborough a 38-27 lead going into the halftime intermission.

BMCC stuck to the gameplan in the second half, chipping away at the double-digit deficit and outscoring Queensborough 28-17 through the first 11:54 with a Cardi three-pointer at 9:06, tying it at 55. Both squads continued to trade scores, with a Fasanmi putback at 4:21 tying it again at 60 before the Tigers scored on back-to-back possessions with a Walters layup at 3:39, making it 64-60. The Panthers would get within two twice more but couldn't get any closer as the Tigers would hold them off for a 72-66 victory.

Queenborough Community College got their scoring from the big guns as two players put up 20-point scoring efforts, and one scored in double figures. Freshman Anthony Walters, the nation's leading scorer and 2023 CUNYAC Player of the Year, led the offensive charge for the Tigers, pouring in a game-high 23 points with 17 of them in the first half while grabbing six rebounds. Walters was also named the Championship game's Most Valuable Player.
 
Sophomore Stephon Flores also posted a 20-point performance, including a game-high four three-pointers, while classmate Preston Harts scored 16 points and dished out a game-best four assists. Fellow upperclassman Zacharie Nyanid hauled down a game-high 12 rebounds for the Tigers.
 
Despite the tough loss, the Panthers have a ton of confidence and a chance to make waves in the upcoming 2023 Region 15 Tournament in two weeks. For more information, visit the BMCC Men's Basketball Schedule Page.


ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
The athletic program at Borough of Manhattan Community College encompasses a total of eight varsity teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level. For the latest news on the Panthers, please visit us at https://bmccathletics.com - The official site of BMCC Athletics. Follow the Panthers on Instagram (@bmcc_athletics) and Twitter (@BMCCAthletics), and Like Us on Facebook (BMCC Athletics).