CUNYAC / Con Edison Men's Basketball

Top Seeded Hostos Wins First CUNYAC Title

Brooklyn, NY - Top-seeded Hostos Community College (21-8) reversed an early 24-13 deficit and went on to capture the 2004 CUNYAC / Con Edison Men's Basketball Commmunity College Championship, defeating #3 seeded Kingsborough Community College (11-14), 78-70, Friday evening at Kingsborough Community College. It was the first CUNYAC crown for Hostos, who lost in the finals a year ago in their initial season of the program.

Leading 40-36 at halftime, Hostos stretched their lead to seven points, 45-38, as sophomore center Marvin Lynch (John Jay/New York, NY) converted a put-back with 16:11 remaining in the second half. Freshman Pierre Narcisse (Madison/Brooklyn, NY) scored inside to bring the Wave within 47-42 at the 13:40 mark, but the Caimans scored the next seven points to push the lead to 12 points, 54-42, with 11:13 to play. Kingsborough closed to within 56-48 with 9:40 remaining, but Hostos responded with a big run, outscoring the Wave, 10-3, to claim their biggest lead of the game at 66-51 after a pair of free throws by sophomore guard Alex Colon (Bronx, NY). The Wave were able to close within six points, 71-65, after sophomore guard Dustin Yeates (South Shore/Brooklyn, NY) hit one of his two free throws with 2:10 to go. Narcisse then hit one of two from the line, and after a Hostos turnover, sophomore guard Ronald Williams (Tilden/Brooklyn, NY) scored in the post to bring Kingsborough within just three, 71-68 with 1:10 to play. However, freshman forward George Cotal (Columbus/Bronx, NY) and Lynch connected on four straight free throws to put the game away at 75-68 with just forty-two seconds on the clock.

Kingsborough opened up an early 11-5 lead at the 16:51 mark as they hit four of their first eight shots from the floor. The Wave extended their lead to 11 points, 24-13, as Williams capped a 13-4 run with a long three-point goal from the left wing at the 11:17 mark. Hostos then outscored the Wave, 15-4, to nod the game at 28-28 with 6:30 left. Sophomore guard Donald Hennie (Dwight Morrow/Bronx, NY), who scored nine first-half points, converted back-to-back driving lay-ups to complete the run. Sophomore guard Malik Haney (Bronx Regional/Bronx, NY) would connect on a three-point goal with 2:10 left to give the Caimans their first lead of the half, 33-32, since they scored the opening basket of the contest.

"It was extremely tough game,” said Tournament Most Valuable Player Lynch. "We were able to close out the game and that has been our biggest problem all season. The CUNY tournament is the place where we can improve ourselves. We did, and now we are ready for the Region XV Tournament.”

Lynch scored 19 points and added a game-high 17 rebounds and five blocks to lead Hostos. Hennie added a team-high 20 points and was named to the All-Tournament Team.

"Everybody really stepped up tonight and chipped in,” said Hostos head coach Robert Holford. "We were able to bring the championship home to Hostos. It's been two years of hard work and determination.”

Yeates led the Wave with a game-high 23 points and Narcisse added 17 points and 12 rebounds. Both players earned All- Tournament honors.

Most Valuable Player
Marvin Lynch (Hostos)

All-Tournament Team
Donald Hennie (Hostos), Dustin Yeates (Kingsborough), Pierre Narcisse (Kingsborough) , Greg Alexander (Manhattan), Carl Emengo (Queensborough)