Bears Pound Medgar Evers at Izod Center

(EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ)  The Men's Basketball team snapped a three-game losing streak in a lopsided 86-58 victory over the Medgar Evers Cougars in a special matchup played at the Izod Center, home of the New Jersey Nets.  Sophmore sniper Justin Gist (Brooklyn, NY / Newsome) led the Bears with 20 points and senior Ervin Maddox (Staten Island, NY / St. Peter's) netted 18 points in the victory.

Medgar Evers, who entered the game winless, were shorthanded missing four players including starting center Kris Deriggs, who was a presence for the Cougars in the middle.  The Bears came out firing from the outset to take an early 10 point lead in the first seven minutes and finished shooting 51.4% for the half, their best shooting performance thus far.  St. Joseph's utilized their speed and quickness to force 12 turnovers, getting six steals.  A jumper from Maddox with just under four minutes to play gave St. Joseph's their largest lead of the half at 23 which they carried into the locker rooms, 45-23.

The Cougars would find little answers in the second half, despite Coach Joseph Cocozello giving his bench some significant playing time.  St. Joseph's continued their hot shooting in the professional arena, shooting 47.1% in the second frame and finishing at 50% (6-for12) from long range.  The Bears led by as many as 37 before sealing the 86-58 victory.

Eleven Bears tallied points for Coach Cocozello.  Gist shot 75% (3-for-4) from behind the arc and added three steals with two assists.  Maddox shot 7-for-9 from the floor, dished out six assists, grabbing four boards and stealing three.  Larry Fawcett (Queens, NY / Christ the King) was the only other Bear in double digits, netting 11 on 2-for-3 from long range.  Senior Przemyslaw Kudla(Brooklyn, NY / St. John's Prep) added 9 points, seven of which came in the first 10 minutes, giving St. Joseph's an early offensive spark.

St. Joseph's now sits at 3-5 and Medgar Evers remains winless at 0-9.  The Bears return to action on December 28-29 travelling over the Verrazano Bridge to compete in the College of Staten Island Tournament of Heroes.