SJC Long Island Downs Men’s Basketball in Rivalry Matchup

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BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- The St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) men's basketball team (8-15, 4-10) hosted sibling rival SJC Long Island (6-15, 1-12) as part of a doubleheader at The Hill Center on Saturday afternoon. The Bears fell, 68-64, for their third-straight loss as SJC Long Island picked up their first win in Skyline play despite a career-high 20 points from sophomore Chris Mikos (Freehold, N.J./Saint John Vianney).

How It Happened
The Golden Eagles jumped out to a 12-2 lead capped by a Frank Basile jumper at 15:24 as they controlled this one early on. Brooklyn clawed back and even came within three, but the visitors responded with seven unanswered bringing the score to 23-13 with 6:30 before the break.

Once again, SJCBK came back within three on an and-one layup from senior forward Kavan Meiner (Staten Island, N.Y./Susan Wagner), but the Golden Eagles clawed them off to lead 32-25 at half behind 51.7 percent shooting in the period including three players with at least nine points.

Matthew Lavin drained a long-ball early on in the second to put Long Island ahead by double-digits once again (44-34) as they had their first league victory in their sights. Doug Niblock added another three soon after as the visitors extended the lead to 50-34 just four-and-a-half minutes into the frame.

However, the Bears responded with 12 unanswered points of their own, finished off by a Mikos bucket, to make it a game again as they came within four halfway through the second. Brooklyn cut the deficit to as little as one, but the Golden Eagles held them off behind 14 second-half points from Darby to split the season series.

For the Bears

• Mikos finished with a career-high 20 points on excellent 9-12 shooting along with six boards, three assists, and two steals.
• Senior forward Stephane Etheart (Hollis, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) contributed a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double off the bench on 8-13 field-goal shooting.
• Sebastien Etheart (Hollis, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) chipped in seven points and as many assists.

Next Up
Their final road game of the regular season at Mount Saint Vincent on Tuesday (Feb. 18) beginning at 8 p.m. Links to live stats and video will be available at SJCBears.com/live.