Box Score
Brooklyn, NY --- The Brooklyn College Men's Basketball Team (8-3, 2-0 CUNYAC) rallied from a 16-point second half deficit to defeat Stevenson University (2-9, 1-1 CAC) 78-77. The Bridges outscored the Mustangs 19-2 over the game's final five and a half minutes to secure the dramatic victory.
The Bridges came out on fire, scoring 10 straight points to open the game, as Richard Jean-Baptiste (St. John's Prep / Queens, NY) started the streak with a long three-pointer. BC opened up a 20-6 gap in the game's first four minutes, but Stevenson battled back, cutting the gap to eight points at halftime. Ely Richardson highlighted the rally, scoring all 13 of his points over a seven minute stretch in the first half.
The second half saw the Mustangs start on a 12-4 run, knotting the score at 52 less than five minutes into the stanza. A foul shot by Jean-Baptiste gave the Bridges a brief one-point lead before Stevenson embarked on another rally. A three-pointer by Greg Woody started a streak where the visitors scored 22 of the next 27 points to take a seemingly commanding 75-59 with 5:39 remaining.
A Tyshawn Russell (Holy Cross / Jamaica, NY) steal turned into a Jean-Baptiste lay-up that started the game-winning spurt. Darnell Cudjoe (Murray Bergtraum / Brooklyn, NY), who played solidly down the stretch, grabbed an offensive rebound and recorded a put-back to pull the Bridges within four points, 75-71, with 99 seconds remaining. Following a Jean-Baptiste jumper, Daniel Nisbett (Michael J. Petrides / Staten Island, NY) drained a trifecta to reclaim the lead for the Bridges, 76-75.
On the ensuing Stevenson possession, Keith Holtman hit a baseline jumper to give the Mustangs a one point cushion. Following a Brooklyn time out, Nisbett fed the ball to Jean-Baptise along the endline. The 6-4 forward dribbled along the endline, looking for an opening, but he was fouled by Holtman before he could get a shot off. With the Bridges in the bonus, Jean-Baptiste went to the charity stripe and calmly sank the free throws to reclaim the lead for Brooklyn. The BC defense hunkered down on the final possession and Stevenson was unable to get a shot off before the final buzzer sounded.
Jean-Baptiste led all scorers with 31 points. Ahmad Hemingway (Curtis / Brooklyn, NY) added 14 points, eight boards and four assists, while Nisbett chipped in with 12 points. For the Mustangs, Woody netted 24 points but committed 12 costly turnovers. Senior Kerry Dugan recorded a double-double, with 17 points and 16 rebounds.
The Bridges next on play on Wednesday evening, hosting conference rival City Tech at Roosevelt Gymnasium at 7:30 pm.
