Brooklyn, NY --- The Brooklyn College Men's Basketball team improved to 10-0 at home this season as the Bulldogs topped borough foe the Cougars of Medgar Evers College, 77-63, in City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) action on Friday night at the West Quad Center. BC shot 56.7% (17-for-30) from the field in the second half to erase a 10-point halftime deficit and complete the comeback victory.

With the win, Brooklyn improves to 19-5 overall on the year and 11-4 in the CUNYAC. The Bulldogs have also swept the regular season series against their borough neighbor, as BC defeated Medgar Evers, 80-61, back on December 9th.

The win also secures home court advantage for Brooklyn for the quarterfinals round of the CUNYAC Championships that is scheduled for Sunday, February 22nd. The 19 wins on the season for the Bulldogs are the most since the 2011-2012 campaign, when BC finished the season 19-10 and posted a runner –up showing in the 2012 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Metro Championships.

Medgar Evers drops to 3-21 overall on the season and 2-13 in conference play.

The first half saw five ties and four lead changes through the first 11 minutes of the contest. Following a layup from Brooklyn's Egzon Gjonbalaj that tied the game at 21 all with 9:21 remaining in the opening half, the Cougars would seize control of the game and eventually take a 10-point, 41-21, lead into the locker room.

Medgar Evers held the hot shooting hand in the first half, as the visitors shot 45.9% (17-for-37) from the field, including 55.6% (5-for-9) from beyond the arc. Kyle Sierra sparked the Cougars' offense in the first half, scoring 16 points coming off the bench, while hitting four three pointers.

Brooklyn would chip away at its deficit throughout the second half and would eventually regain the lead at 50-49 on a layup from Gjonbalaj with 13:07 remaining in the game. Following a layup from Aker-Mark Bayley-Hay that put Medgar Evers up eight, 49-41, with 16:15 on the clock, the Bulldogs began their comeback push, going on a 12-0 run to take a four-point lead, 53-49, with 12:44 left before the final horn. Gjonbalaj powered the run scoring seven of the 12 points, while Jai Kellman capped the run finishing a three-point play by converting an and-one.

The Cougars would tie the game on three occasions over the next seven minutes; however, the Bulldogs would keep the visitors at bay, as Brooklyn would never relinquish its lead again. After a layup from Bayley-Hay that tied the game at 60 all for the eighth time on the night with just 5:39 remaining in the game, the Bulldogs would close out the game on a 17-3 run to take home the 77-63 victory.

Leading the way for Brooklyn in the second half was the duo of Gjonbalaj and Enees Nikovic, as Gjonbalaj scored 18 points in the second half, while Nikovic added 11 points in the second frame.

Gjonbalaj finished the night with a game-high 24 points, to go along with eight rebounds, five steals and four blocks. Kellman added 17 points and a game-high eight assists, while Lorenzo Williams recorded his ninth double-double of the season with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Nikovic finished with 13 points coming off the bench.

Sierra led the Cougars with 22 points, to go with five rebounds and five assists coming off the bench, while Bayley-Hay added 16 points and nine rebounds. Zavier Coston chipped in with 14 points, while Matthew Walker dished out seven assists.

For the game, BC shot 48.3% (29-for-60) from the field, including 29.2% (7-for-24) from three. The Bulldogs also shot 66.7% (12-for-18) from the line.

Medgar Evers shot 40.9% (27-for-66) from the field, including 33.3% (6-for-18) from beyond the arc. The Cougars went to the line just six times, converting three attempts (50%).

Points off of turnovers were key to the Brooklyn comeback, as the Bulldogs scored 32 points (19 in the second half) off of 23 miscues.  The Bulldogs also outscored the Cougars 44-30 in the paint.

Medgar Evers won the battle of the glass, out-rebounding Brooklyn 41-35.

Brooklyn returns to action this Tuesday, February 17th, as the Bulldogs will host the Bearcats of Baruch College (18-5 overall/14-1 CUNYAC) in a key conference showdown between two of the top four teams in the Atlantic Region (Baruch is currently ranked third in the region, while Brooklyn ranks fourth). Tip-off for the regular season finale is scheduled for 7:15 pm at the West Quad Center. Seniors Steven Diaz, Valon Djombalic and Jai Kellman will be honored before the game as part of Senior Night festivities.

The Bulldogs will look to pull off the upset and split the regular season series, as Baruch defeated Brooklyn, 85-74, back on January 10th.