Men's Basketball Ekes Out Overtime Win Over CCNY

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Sophomore Michael Megafu (Brooklyn, N.Y./Nazareth Regional) and junior David Louison (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Edmund Prep) each recorded double-doubles as the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) men's basketball team squeaked out an 87-84 overtime victory over CCNY to close out 2013 on Monday evening at the Nat Holman Gymnasium.

St. Joseph's (7-5) has now won a season-high four games in a row and five out of their last six while CCNY (2-5) has now lost three games in a row.

Megafu picked up his team-leading seventh double-double with a team-high 24 points on an efficient 11-of-15 shooting while corralling 15 rebounds to go along with four assists and three steals. Louison notches his fifth double-double of the season pouring in 19 points while securing 10 rebounds. Sophomore Matt O'Neill (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Edmund Prep) contributed 14 points and four steals and senior Ian Duff (Jamaica, N.Y./Christ the King)chipped in 11 points to round out four Bears reaching double figures.

The Beavers were paced by the duo of Anthony Lewis and Khalil Hamer who combined to score 58 points with Lewis dropping in a game-high 33 points while Hamer added 25.

The game was a back-and-forth contest that saw 12 ties and 20 lead changes that saw CCNY jump out to a 26-15 lead with 7:32 left to play in the first half, their largest of the game. The Bears responded by going on a 20-11 run to close the half that sent them into the locker rooms trailing only by two, 37-35.

St. Joseph's would come out in the second half and take their largest lead of the night at 51-44 with 12:36 left in regulation on a Megafu tip in. The Bears maintained a seven point lead up until the 11:07 mark until the Beavers responded with a 12-3 run of their own to take a 60-58 lead with 7:36 remaining.

St. Joseph's held a 78-72 advantage with 1:19 left and the game looked to be well in hand but CCNY had other plans as they scored six unanswered, helped by Bears fouls and turnovers, to close regulation forcing overtime with the score tied at 78-78.

The extra period saw both teams get off to a slow start with no points scored in the first minute but St. Joseph's would outscore the Beavers 9-6 in the overtime period to seal the victory.

TURNING POINT

The Bears tied the score at 82-82 with 1:48 left in overtime on a Megafu layup. The teams exchanged possessions with neither team being able to get on the board until a St. Joseph's foul with 36 seconds left that put CCNY up 84-82 after Hamer made both free throws.

On the Bears ensuing possession Megafu took a pass from Louison and connected on a layup to tie the score at 84-84 while drawing a foul in the process sending him to the charity stripe for a chance to give St. Joseph's the lead. Megafu would make the ensuing free throw to put the Bears up 85-84 with 22 seconds remaining.

On their ensuing possession CCNY missed a layup with four seconds left and were forced to foul after St. Joseph's secured the defensive rebound. Sophomore Greg Beehler (Breezy Point, N.Y./St. Edmund Prep) knocked down two free throws to provide the final margin of victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Other contributors: Vernon Maddox (8 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast)
• St. Joseph's shot an efficient 46.5 percent (33-of-71) from the floor while holding the CCNY to 41.0 percent (32-of-78) shooting.
• The two teams were nearly even on the glass with the Beavers holding a slight 51-50 advantage.
• CCNY won the battle of the benches holding a 43-17 edge.
• The charity stripe was not kind to both teams as both teams shot 52.9 percent (18-of-34) from the line.
• There were 48 personal fouls in the game with four players fouling out.

THE BEAR FACTS

• St. Joseph's takes a 4-3 lead in the all-time series having now won four consecutive meetings.
• The Bears finish the month of December with a 5-2 record.
• Tonight's overtime game was St. Joseph's first since their 90-87 double overtime win over sister campus St. Joseph's (L.I.) on December 7th of last year.
• Louison now has 29 career double-doubles while Megafu now has 22.

NEXT UP FOR THE BEARS

St. Joseph's begins the New Year with a matchup against Drew University at Brooklyn Technical High School on Saturday, January 4th with a 5 p.m. tip-off.