The Baruch College Bearcats defeated the Maccabees of Yeshiva University, 79-76, in overtime in front of one of the largest crowds to watch a non-conference game in recent years at the ARC Arena.

The Bearcats scored seven of the final nine points in the last two minutes of overtime to walk away with the competitive win.

They trailed 74-72 with two minutes left, but Raymond De La Cruzhit a deep three from the corner to put them ahead, 75-74.

Yeshiva responded with a quick basket to lead 76-75, but Chimaechi Ekekeugbornailed a jumper to return back the lead to 77-76.

Yeshiva raced down the court and missed a layup, thereby enabling the Bearcats to hold possession and a one point lead with under a minute remaining.  

Rookie Doyin Isaacthen found an opening in the defense and scored on a driving layup to the delight of the crowd for a three point lead with 29 seconds remaining. The defense held in the final seconds to record the 79-76 victory.

The visiting Maccabees led throughout the first half and parts of the second, but the Bearcats battled back to win with another balanced scoring attack with four players in double-figures.

Ekekeugbor stuffed the stats sheet with a career-high 31 points, 12 rebounds, and two steals.

De La Cruz finished with 13 points and six rebounds, while Jack Shanahanand Issac scored 11 points each.

The Bearcats out-rebounded the Maccabees, 39-29, but Yeshiva shot 53 percent (32-for-51) and rotated a series of substitutions every few minutes to create a fast paced contest.

Shelby Rosenberg led the visitors from the Bronx with 17 points.

TheBearcats will hit the road on Thursday to Norfolk, Virginia to compete on Friday night at the Marlins Tip-Off Tournament hosted by No. 2 nationally-ranked Virginia Wesleyan University.

The Bearcats on Friday will play Averett University (Danville, Virginia) in a contest scheduled to tip off at 5:00 pm. This game will feature live stats and video, which will be posted on Baruchathletics.com.