Trio with Career Games Not Enough for Men’s Basketball Against Old Westbury

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — Evan Sirakis (Hollis Hills, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) and Joseph Ghotra (Brooklyn, N.Y./New Hyde Park Memorial) scored career-highs of 17 and 14 points, respectively. Joe Sheehan (Staten Island, N.Y./Gaynor McCown) also collected a career-best 12 caroms. However, the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) men's basketball team came out on the wrong end of a 96-72 result against SUNY College at Old Westbury on Monday night in Farmingdale.

How it Happened

Ghotra banked a triple to open the scoring and after the Panthers (7-8, 3-5 Skyline) tied it with a three-pointer of their own, Chris Mikos (Freehold, N.J./St. John Vianney) put the Bears (2-14, 1-7 Skyline) back in front, 5-3, with a reverse layup. Old Westbury followed that up by using a 16-3 run over the next four minutes to hold a double-figure lead, 19-8. However, SJC clawed back as Mikos and Anderson Beltre (East Elmurst, N.Y./Holy Cross) combined to score the next seven points to trail by two possessions, 19-15. The Panthers restored their double-figure advantage, thanks to 57.1% shooting from beyond the arc in the half, and entered the break up 56-27.

The hosts took their largest lead of the game at the 16:15 mark of the second stanza, 68-37. Sirakis scored 14 of his 17 points in the period as the navy and gray outscored the Panthers in the half 45-40 while shooting 47.6% from the floor. Ultimately, the Bears weren't able to overcome their deficit, falling 96-72.

For the Bears

• Shooting 7-of-13 from the field, Sirakis' 17 points match a previous career-high. He also picked up three rebounds, assists, and steals.

• Mikos flirted with his second triple-double of the season; recording 16 points, 11 caroms, and seven assists.

• Along with his 14 points, Ghotra finished with a pair of steals and as many boards.

• Sheehan's 12 rebounds in 17 minutes were a game-high; adding four points.

• Beltre totaled seven points and six rebounds off the bench.

• Richie Simon (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Edmund Prep) had eight points and five rebounds while Samil Melo (Brooklyn, N.Y./Adams Street) had six points and three boards.

• The Bears won the battle on the boards, outrebounding the Panthers 48-38. SJC also beat out Old Westbury on second-chance points, 19-11.

Up Next

The Bears continue their three-game road trip with a visit to Skyline North Division leaders at the United States Merchant Marine Academy on Wednesday, January 26 at 7 p.m. Live stats and video of the game will be available on sjcbears.com/live.