The Baruch College Bearcats lost 83-76 in a CUNYAC contest on Friday night at the College of Staten Island Dolphins.

The Dolphins shot 61 percent in the first half (19-for-31) to take a 43-32 advantage into the halftime break.

The Bearcats started the second half by scoring 14 of the first 18 points to get as close as 47-46 on an Edward Roscigno three.  

Chimaechi Ekekeugbor would later score a basket to help the Bearcats take a brief 53-52 lead with 13:38 remaining, but the Dolphins came back strong with a game-busting 9-0 run to lead 62-53 with 8:45 left.

They grew their lead to as much as 11 (72-61) with four minutes left, but the Bearcats did not go quietly by getting as close as again as four (74-70) with 58 seconds left.

The Dolphins closed out the win by connecting on 9-of-10 free throws in the final 44 seconds for the 83-76 win.

Ekekeugbor led the Bearcats with 23 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots. Raymond De La Cruz had 16, while Roscigno and Ryan Markoe finished with 14 each in the tough road loss.

Will Fonseca led the home team with 31 points and 10 rebounds.

Baruch will return home for the Battle of Lexington on Tuesday, February 16, with an 8 p.m. contest against the Bulldogs of Brooklyn College.