The Baruch College Bearcats defeated Beavers of CCNY, 75-61, in a CUNYAC home contest on Friday night in the ARC Arena.

The Bearcats (12-3, 8-0 CUNYAC) started strong by building a 15 point (27-12) lead midway through the first half, but the visiting Beavers (6-9, 1-7 CUNYAC) scored 14 consecutive points to get as close as 27-26 with 2:12 left before halftime.

Granville Gittens scored the next five points to help carry a 32-26 advantage into the break.

The Beavers managed to get as close as one point again (32-31) in the opening minutes of the second half, but the Bearcats responded with nine straight points to lead 41-31 with 15:22 left. That run proved pivotal as the Beavers would not get as close as seven points the rest of the game.

The Bearcats took control in the final 10 minutes to lead by 20 points (67-47) with under six minutes left to stay undefeated in conference play, while improving to 8-0 at home.

Chimaechi Ekekeugborled the Bearcats with 15 points. Bryler Paigeand Gittens (3 blocks) finished with 14 points each.

Brian McMahon had a solid game with a near double-double of 11 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots.

Anthony Lewis led the visitors with 22 points and eight rebounds.

Baruch will hit the road on Monday, January 19 (Martin Luther King Day) for a 2:00 pm non-conference road contest against Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut.