Brooklyn, NY --- The Brooklyn College Men's Basketball team defeated the Cardinals of York College in a vital matchup for seeding purposes in the upcoming City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC)/Con Edison Tournament, tonight at the West Quad Center Gymnasium. The game took extra frames, as the Bulldogs edged out the Cardinals, 78-71, in an overtime classic to improve to 12-11 overall and 8-4 in conference play. With the loss, York falls to 7-16 overall and 5-6 in league play.

Prior to the start of the game, four players were honored as part of Senior Day Festivities, as Daniel Velasquez, Brian Shea, Ahmad Hemingway and Darnell Cudjoe played in their final regular season home game at the West Quad Center.

The first half featured a tight contest as neither team was able to build up much momentum. The Bulldogs would lead throughout much of the half, leading by as many as six on a number of occasions. A four-point play from York's Jhonnattan Fernandez tied the game for the first time at 27 all with 5:08 remaining in the half, as the Cardinals would later take their first lead of the game, 31-30, on a three-point play from Kevin Lausell with 4:00 left before the break. York would head into intermission with a 36-34 advantage.

The second half featured much of the same with five ties and four lead changes. After a pair of free throws from Lausell put the Cardinals up five, 61-56, with 2:45 left in the game, the Bulldogs would score the next five points to knot the game up at 61 all with 1:02 remaining. York would retake the lead, 63-61, with :45 seconds remaining on a layup from Shamir Wilkinson, but Brooklyn would answer right back on a bucket from Cudjoe to tie the game for the eighth time at 63 with :32 ticks left in the game. Both teams would have their chances in the final seconds, but neither squad would be able to convert.

BC would eventually take the game in overtime, outscoring the Cardinals 15-8 in the extra stanza. After a Lausell three gave York a 68-65 lead, Hemingway would answer right back with a three of his own to tie the game. Cudjoe would come through again with a bucket to regain the lead for the Bulldogs, 70-68, as Brooklyn would never trail again, edging out the 78-71 victory.

Turnovers were the key to the Brooklyn victory, as the Bulldogs forced the Cardinals into 27 turnovers for the game, with 12 coming by steal, leading to 30 points for the home team. York dominated the glass out-rebounding BC by a 57-31 advantage. The Cardinals also had 16 offensive boards, which led to 17 second chance points.

For the game, Brooklyn shot 37.3% (28-for-75) from the field, while York shot 46.4% (26-for-56) from the floor. The Cardinals went just 2-for-8 from three, while the Bulldogs converted on 5-of-14 from beyond the arc. Both teams shot similar from the charity stripe, as York hit 17-of-27, compared to Brooklyn going 17-for-26.

For the Bulldogs, Cudjoe scored a game-high 24 points on 10-for-20 shooting from the field. Juniors Amil John and Tyshawn Russell were also in double figure scoring, contributing with 20 and 16 points, respectively. Russell also dished out five assists to go with four steals, while Hemingway grabbed a team-best nine rebounds.

The Cardinals had four players in double digits, led by Marcel Esonwune who notched a double-double with a team-high 19 points and game-high 17 rebounds. William Holley (18 points and 11 rebounds) and Wilkinson (13 points and 10 rebounds) also notched double-doubles. Holley was one assist away from a triple-double, dishing out a game-best nine dimes on the night. Lausell chipped in with 13 points coming off the bench.

Brooklyn returns to action this Friday, February 11th, as the Bulldogs will travel to Staten Island, NY to conclude their conference regular season schedule against the College of Staten Island. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 pm.