JAMAICA, N.Y. – The York College men's basketball team rallied from a 16-point second-half deficit to take a late lead over Brooklyn College but a three-point play by Brooklyn's Jeffrey Noel with 20 seconds left propelled the Bulldogs to an 81-80 win over the Cardinals on Monday evening.  

York struggled mightily throughout the first half and the early parts of the second half and Brooklyn played exceptionally well to start the game.  The Bulldogs shot 61 percent from the field and 61 percent from long distance in the opening half.  

But Brooklyn's shooting would come back to Earth in the second half, shooting 33 percent.  The Bulldogs still held a 16-point edge (68-52) though, after a three-pointer by Egzon Gjonbalaj with 13:08 to play. But from that point on, York caught fire, responding with a 15-0 run to make the score 68-67 with 7:34 to play.  Donald Rodriguez was instrumental during the stretch, scoring eight points and draining two three-pointers. 

Brooklyn would hold on to a narrow lead from there until the 2:56 mark when a pair of Du'Quan Lawson free throws gave York its first lead of the game (76-75). Just over two minutes later, with 49 seconds left to play and the score tied, a made jumper by Jose Arroyo put York on top,  80-78. Brooklyn came up court on the ensuing possession and Noel was fouled on a lay-up attempt and made the shot.  He hit the free throw to put Brooklyn up by one with 20 seconds left. 

Brooklyn was led by Kavon Baker, who finished with 20 points and Gjonbalaj and Noel, who each netted 18. 

The loss drops York to 8-11, 4-6 in the CUNYAC, while Brooklyn improves to 6-12, 4-6 in conference play.  The Cardinals will host Baruch College on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m