Bears Lose Thriller in Overtime

NEW YORK, NY - The St. Joseph's College men's basketball team gave John Jay all they could handle, but fell just shy losing 84-83 in overtime. Senior Donald Coleman (Brooklyn, NY/Nazareth) led the Bears with a game high 29 points on 12-for-24 shooting. The loss drops the Bears to 1-3 on the season, while the Bloodhounds improve to 4-0.

St. Joseph's stumbled out of the gates once again, hitting only two of their first seven shots as they fell behind 10-4. They would recover however, going on a 22-6 run to take a 26-16 lead midway through the first half. Junior Antoine Forehand (New York, NY/Rice) highlighted the run on both ends of the floor, scoring 11 points and coming up with two steals. The Bears extended that lead to 12 with just under three minutes remaining before the break, but the Bloodhounds went on an 8-0 to close the half and cut the deficit to four, 40-36.

The two teams traded baskets in the second half keeping the game close. St. Joseph's largest lead of the half was eight points and John Jay continually fell just short of overtaking the lead. The Bloodhounds were eventually able to tie the game at the 5:21 mark of the second half, but the Bears jumped right back on top thanks to a Coleman layup on their next possession.

St. Joseph's maintained that slim lead into the final seconds, as a three pointer by Jerome Alexander cut the lead to one with 47 seconds left to play. Freshman David Ortiz (Brooklyn, NY/Christ the King) turned the ball back over to John Jay with 26 seconds left and a foul by sophomore Ismael Dabo (Bloomfield, NJ/St. John's Prep) set up the Bloodhounds with a chance to take their first lead since 13:42 in the first half.

Jamar Harry hit one of two free throws to tie, missing the second, but Isaiah Holman was able to snag the rebound and give the Bloodhounds another chance to win. His three ball was off though as the final buzzer sounded with the game knotted up at 69 at the end of regulation.

St. Joseph's jumped out to a quick lead in the overtime period on an Ortiz three on their first possession. The Bloodhounds rallied though, going on an 11-2 run to take a six point advantage with just under a minute remaining.

Sophomore Thomas Karasinski (Staten Island, NY/New Dorp) gave St. Joseph's a chance with his third three point bucket of the night, but the desperate Bears had to foul and Alexander hit one of two free throws to bring the lead back to four with :08 left on the clock. Karasinski hit another three at the buzzer, but the Bears fell a point shy in their comeback effort.

The three pointer, which was the Bears' nemesis over the weekend at the Harwick College Tip-Off Tournament, turned into an ally as the team hit 10-for-22 from behind the arc. Karasinski, responsible for four of those baskets, scored 12 points on the night. Forehand finished with 17 points and also grabbed five rebounds and dished out six assists for the Bears.

Holman led the Bloodhounds with 26 points and Harry finished with a double-double, recording 16 points and a game high 17 boards.

The Bears step back on the court next on Saturday, November 27th as the lead game of St. Joseph's home opener doubleheader against Eastern Nazarene. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 pm. at Brooklyn Technical High School.