Men's Basketball Remains Perfect Downing Pratt in Clinton Hill Battle

BROOKLYN, N.Y.—Twelve different Bears tallied a field goal as the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) men's basketball team never trailed in a 79-46 Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (HVIAC) victory over Pratt Institute in their league opener on at the Activities Resource Center on Wednesday night.

Jumping out to a 3-0 start for the first time under Coach Cocozello, the Bears (3-0, 1-0 HVIAC) were led by the third consecutive double-double performances from senior David Louison (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Edmund Prep) and junior Michael Megafu (Jamaica, N.Y./Nazareth Regional). Megafu scored a team-high 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting. He also added 11 rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Louison recorded 12 points, 10 boards, two assists and three steals.

For the third consecutive game, St. Joseph's also had four different players reach double figures in scoring. Senior Vernon Maddox (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's) contributed 11 points, three helpers and three steals while junior Matt O'Neill (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Edmund Prep) pitched in with 10 points, two assists, and three steals.

Freshman Olatunde Bashorun (Staten Island, N.Y./Port Richmond) and sophomore Richard DiPuma (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) chipped in five points each to lead the eight reserves who combined for 24 points

Andrew Yaglenski led the way for Pratt (2-2, 0-2 HVIAC), scoring a game-high 18 points helped by a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Ari Grant provided a strong all-around effort with 15 points, nine boards, four assists and three blocks.

The Bears controlled the game throughout and never trailed. They jumped out to an early 13-2 lead by the 15:11 mark and went into the break leading 32-20.

Louison's powerful dunk 13 seconds into the second stanza set the pace for another strong half. DiPuma's trifecta with 8:10 remaining made the score 68-33 and put St. Joseph's up 35 points; their largest lead of the game and season.

Despite shooting the 40 percent in the half, the Cannoneers were unable to make up much ground as the Bears shot a blistering 57 percent (21-37) to finish with a 49 percent connect rate for the contest. The Bears defense also held Pratt to just 35 shooting (18-51) and swiped 17 steals and forced 24 turnovers.

After a perfect 3-0 start, the Bears will now look head to Quincy, Mass. to compete in the Eastern Nazarene College Holiday Tournament. The Bears will face Maine-Presque Isle in the opening round on Friday, November 21 at 8 p.m.