West Quad Center Brooklyn, NY---When you think of postseason basketball, two words usually come to mind and they are "defense" and "physical". That is what spectators got to see in the #3-seeded Brooklyn College men's basketball team's 72-62 victory over #7-seeded York College in the CUNYAC Championships Quarterfinal Round this afternoon. The Bulldogs improve to 20-6 overall with the victory and advance to the CUNYAC Semifinals hosted by CCNY on Tuesday February 23. Tip-off is slated for 8:00 PM against #2-seed College of Staten Island.

With both teams feeling each other out in the first ten minutes of the game, York would take a 22-15 lead halfway through the opening period. However, the Bulldogs found their offensive answer in senior guard Jamel Gist who was lights out on the afternoon especially in the first half. He would hit back-to-back three-point field goals to pull the Bulldogs within a point with 8:33 remaining in the first half. Senior forward Lorenzo Williams gave the Bulldogs the 24-22 lead on a three-point play after a Nicholas Grasso steal. An Egzon Gjonbalaj fast-break lay-up extended the lead to four off of a Gist steal. The Bulldogs led by as many as 13 points in the final three minutes of the first half. Gist would lead the way with 27 of the Bulldogs' 42 first-half points. BC would go into the locker room with the 42-30 advantage right after a Gist three-point make with :02 left in the first half.

BC scored the first bucket of the second half on an Egzon Gjonbalaj backdoor dunk on an assist from Jamel Gist. York responded in the next six minutes, cutting the Bulldog lead to 46-43. However, it would be Gist again who answered with the 'long ball' extending it to a two-possession game with a little over 13 minutes remaining in regulation. BC pushed the lead back up to double-digits on back-to-back lay-ins.

Leading by eleven points with just under seven minutes remaining in the game, senior guard Egzon Gjonbalaj put the explanation on the lead with a one-handed dunk right down the middle of the paint that shook the entire gymnasium.

With York being forced to foul early to stop the clock, the Bulldogs converted on their free-throws to close out the quarterfinal victory.

"We're excited to be moving on to the semifinals on Tuesday." said Head Coach Rich Micallef. "Last season we came so close to winning the championship, and now we have a chance to try and get back to the big game. I'm excited for my team and my senior class and am looking forward to a great game Tuesday night."

Jamel Gist led all scorers with 36 points including 7-10 from beyond the arc. Seniors Egzon Gjonbalaj and Lorenzo Williams added 14 points a piece. The Bulldogs got great production from reserves junior guard Chris McIllhatton and Anaselrahman Abdu who each scored four points. McIllhatton also finished with three key steals. York's Rashaan Bailey and Chad Coachman finished with 11 points a piece to lead the Cardinals.