The Baruch College Bearcats lost 73-62 to the Bloodhounds of John Jay College of Criminal Justice in a CUNYAC / Con Edison Championship Tournament semifinal game played on Thursday night at CCNY.

The Bearcats will now seek to continue their postseason in the Division III version of the NIT - the "ECAC Metro Postseason Championship Tournament" - that will start with quarterfinal round contests at the higher seeds on Wednesday, February 27.

The field for the eight-team tournament will be announced late Monday afternoon, February 25.    

The Bearcats dug themselves into a hole early in the game by committing 17 turnovers and shooting 35 percent (7-for-20) in the first half to fall behind by 16 points at halftime (39-23).

They slowly battled back in the second half managing to get as close as six points (60-54) with 2:26 left, but the Bloodhounds scored eight straight points, all on free throws, over the next minute to lead 68-54 with 1:17 remaining.The Bearcats could not recover to suffer the defeat.

Joshua Vitalled the Bearcats a double-double of 16 points, 12 rebounds and two steals. Brian McMahonwas the next best scorer with eight points and six rebounds.

Isaiah Holman led the Bloodhounds with 15 points (7-8 FT).

MEN
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17 (QUARTERFINALS)
AT HIGHER SEEDS
1 Staten Island defeated 8 Hunter, 89-80
2 Baruch defeated 7 CCNY, 85-58
3 John Jay defeated 6 York, 81-78 (1 OT)
4 Brooklyn defeated 5 Medgar Evers,79-76 (3 OT)

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21 (SEMIFINALS)
AT CCNY (Nat Holman Gym)
1 Staten Island defeated 4 Brooklyn, 71-65  
3 John Jay defeated 2 Baruch, 73-62

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23 (CHAMPIONSHIP)
AT CCNY (Nat Holman Gym) (Winner earns NCAA Berth)
5:00 pm 1 Staten Island vs 3 John Jay