Friday: Baruch wins CUNY at buzzer

More news about: Baruch
Feb 22, 2019
Baruch stands with the trophy and the banner for the CUNYAC tournament championship.
Baruch defeated CUNYAC defending champion Staten Island at the buzzer.
 CUNYAC photo
 

They don't play football in the City University of New York Athletic Conference, but Baruch pulled out a four-receiver set on its final play of the game and Benjamin Boateng hit a jumper at the elbow with 0.2 seconds left to lift the Bearcats to a 76-74 win in the CUNYAC title game over Staten Island on Friday night.

Christian Taylor had hit a 3-pointer with 4.7 seconds left to tie the game up for Staten Island. Out of a time out, Baruch lined up all five of its players out of bounds, sent them running one at a time down the middle of the floor and passed to the trailer, Jack Sixsmith. Sixsmith then found Boateng at the other end of the floor for the wide-open shot.

"We just wanted to create some confusion, something they couldn't match up to," Baruch coach John Alesi said after the game. "Jack made a great read to find Ben and then ... tough shot."

"I know what Jack does, he's a passer, and I just made myself wide open, and I just threw up the shot," said Boateng, who finished with 14 points. "I've got confidence in my shot, my teammates have got confidence in my shot, and without my teammates I wouldn't have made that shot. It's as simple as that."

Andre Harris finished with a game-high 28 points on 10-for-16 shooting for the Bearcats (22-5). Rigaud Destime led Staten Island (17-10) with 23 points.

Recap continues following video.

Matt Green hit a 3-pointer with 12 seconds left as Rowan scored the final seven points of the game to rally past New Jersey City for the New Jersey Athletic Conference tournament title. It's the Profs' first NJAC title since 1999. Nick DePersia scored 19 and Rob DePersia added 12 for Rowan, which improved to 21-6. New Jersey City (20-7) should be in strong contention for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Johns Hopkins booked its spot in the Centennial Conference final thanks to a 16-4 run in the second half en route to a 67-60 win against Ursinus in the conference semifinals at Swarthmore. Michael Gardner led the Blue Jays (18-8) with 13 points. JHU will face the host team, as Swarthmore defeated Washington College 77-59. Zac O'Dell scored 18 and Conor Harkins added 17 as the Garnet improved to 23-3.

The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association will have neither Hope nor Calvin represent it in the NCAA Tournament, as Albion and Trine advanced to the conference tournament final. 

Albion booked its trip to the conference final in dramatic fashion as Jamezell Davis, Jr., got friendly bounces off the backboard and the front of the rim at the buzzer to get past Olivet, 87-85.

Recap continues following video.

 

"There's nothing you can draw up to hit a half-court shot and we had a lot of luck with that," coach Jody May said. "We wanted to space guys out to get space on the floor, and you put the ball in your best player's hands. I would have liked Jamezell to have gotten closer. Normally, you can get about three dribbles with 2.8 seconds. I think he only took two."

Trine defeated Calvin 82-78, knocking the Knights out of the conference tournament. 

Aston Francis scored a game-high 30 points, but he shot just 4-for-16 from 3-point range and North Central advanced to the CCIW final, defeating Wheaton 94-87. Anajuwon Spencer sank a pair of 3-pointers to tie the score, then sailed through the lane in transition for a dunk to give Wheaton a 74-72 lead with 7:09 to play. But Connor Raridon hit a 3-pointer to help the Cardinals (21-5) regain the lead, then followed it with a fallaway in the lane. Blaise Meredith followed with a 3-pointer to give North Central eight points in 41 seconds. Matt Cappelletti returned from a two-game absence to post a 27-point, 10-rebound double-double. Augustana advanced to the final by rolling past Illinois Wesleyan 89-65.

Wooster held DePauw to 29 percent shooting during a 73-52 win in the North Coast Athletic Conference seminfinals. Wooster (23-4), which will play in the championship game of the conference tournament for the 26th time in the 35-year history of the NCAC, will take on archrival Wittenberg (22-5) for the 13th time in the conference final. The Tigers beat Wabash (21-6) 89-75 in the other semifinal. James Johnson led four Tigers in double figures with a team-high 19 points. Danyon Hempy led Wooster with a game-high 24 points against DePauw.

In a game which featured 14 ties and 17 lead changes, SUNYAC top seed Oswego State survived to defeat fifth seed Oneonta 73-69 in double overtime. Tyler Pierre scored 15 consecutive points, including every point in the first overtime, en route to a team-high 21. Oswego will host Brockport, after the Golden Eagles knocked off Plattsburgh State 86-85. 

Elsewhere, Pomona-Pitzer and Occidental will have their rubber match in the SCIAC final, while Alfred will face St. John FIsher in the Empire 8 and St. Norbert will host Lake Forest in the Midwest Conference.