Box Score 12/15/2014 – Bronx, NY
Saturday's CUNYAC matchup vs the #8 Borough of Manhattan CC went to the Panthers, as the Broncos fell by the score of 75-69. The loss was the second in a row for the Bronx team who faced two nationally ranked opponents in a row.
Scoring went back and forth for much of the first half with neither team able to gain an advantage. With 5:20 to go before the break, the score was knotted at 22 points apiece. A layup and two consecutive 3-point goals by BMCC saw them stretch out to a 30-22 lead just moments later. Though Bronx was momentarily cut the lead to six, the team found themselves trailing 37-29 by halftime.
The Broncos continued to be frustrated in the second period as BMCC slowly padded their lead, and limited the BCC scoring chances. Bronx was down by as many as 14 and it looked as if the Panthers would put it away. But with 8:30 left, Brian Berrios hit for a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 10 at 54-44 and a moment later, he buried another 3-ball shrink the deficit to seven.
The Panthers kept the cushion though and went back up by 10 until a triple score by Yohan Almonte brought the game back to 7 points with 4:31 to go. Seconds later, Berrios lifted the Broncos to within 5 with a layup and had the Alumni Gym crowd thinking comeback. Though the tough defense of the Panthers wouldn't allow a run, BCC hung in there until a Berrios drive and converted FT made it 66-63 with 2:35 left. On the next possession, Jatton Pierce-Bias hit a foul shot that made it 66-65 only to see the Panthers extend the lead back to five points with under a minute left. Bronx had one last chance as a tough drive in the paint by Berrios cut the lead to 72-69 with 15.9 seconds on the board, but time would run out on the Broncos comeback bid.
Brian Berrios had 26 points while teammate Karius Morris had another double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
With the loss, the Broncos fall to 9-5 on the season. They will now be off until after the New Year when they return to action on Tuesday, January 6th as they take on Rockland CC at 7pm, location TBA.
