RUCKWIN
97
Winner Bronx CC BRONX 13-15
87
Borough of Manhattan BMCC 10-14
Winner
Bronx CC BRONX
13-15
97
Final
87
Borough of Manhattan BMCC
10-14
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Bronx CC BRONX 48 49 97
Borough of Manhattan BMCC 36 51 87

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Broncos power into CUNYAC title game with 97-87 win over Panthers; Rucker scores 38, Hamilton eclipses 1,000 career points

Gallery: (2/19/2020) MBB at BMCC CUNYAC Semi Final 2-19-20

The Broncos men's basketball team is back in the CUNYAC community college men's basketball title game, earlier tonight defeating the Panthers of the Borough of Manhattan Community College by a score of 97-87. Bronx, serving as the tournament's No. 2 seed,won its third consecutive game, advancing to the conference championship tilt for the first time since the 2012-2013 campaign. BMCC, the No. 3 seed in the tournament, slipped to 10-14, and will await word on its opponent in the NJCAA Division III Region XV Tournament.

Leading the way for the Broncos was Tilquan Rucker, as he put forth another hearty effort, pouring in a game-high 35 points while connecting on 13 of his 23 attempts from the floor. He drilled five three point baskets, pulled down seven boards, registered a game-high four steals, and piled three dimes. Malik Hamilton joined Bronx's 1,000-point club with a 32-point effort (12-21 FG). He snatched seven boards and added two assists, as well, and William Paradise fell just one point short of a double-double, as he scored nine points, tallied a game-high 10 assists, and added three steals.

Despite the loss for the Panthers, BMCC was paced by Malik Bentinck, as he posted a double-double with a team-high 21 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Terrance McBride compiled 20 points while snatching 11 boards and adding four assists, and Curtis Smith registered 20 points, two rebounds, and a pair of steals. Finally, it was Elvys Ceballos falling just short of a double-double, as he scored 12 points and collected nine boards while registering four assists, and a team-high three steals.

The Broncos held an early 5-2 advantage in the opening 2:03 of play, but a 9-0 run by the Panthers put BMCC ahead by a score of 11-5. Bronx would answer with a ferocious spurt, outscoring the Panthers 20-4 over a span of 4:37 to catapult ahead by a score of 25-15. The Broncos went up by as many 18 (35-17) before eventually taking a 48-36 edge into the locker room at halftime.

With 7:03 remaining in the game, Bronx looked to be in prime position to win the contest, up 80-67, but the Panthers, perhaps feeding off of the energy of their fans in their home building, used a 14-2 run to pull to within one, 82-81, with 3:58 to go. The Broncos later led 85-83, but five straight points (a converted free throw by Rucker and two consecutive baskets by Hamilton) put the Broncos ahead 90-83 with 1:17 left, essentially icing the game. Bronx would go on to win by 10.

Bronx connected on 50.7 percent of its shots from the floor (36-71) compared to 47.7 percent for the Caimans (31-65). The Broncos registered 24 assists to 15 for Hostos, and Bronx won the turnover battle, committing just 16 miscues while forcing 21 Hostos mistakes. The Caimans did hold a 45-36 edge in the rebounding department, but the Broncos held advantages in steals (10-7) and swatted shots (4-0).

The Broncos will now gear up for a showdown with No. 1 seeded Hostos Community College. The two teams have quite the dramatic recent history. In the semifinals of last year's tournament, the Caimans outlasted the Broncos 105-98, but Rucker netted a tournament-record 49 points despite the loss. This season, Hostos defeated the Broncos by 20 in early November at the Alumni Gym (11/5/19), but Bronx returned the favor at the Swamp on February 6, 2020, turning back the Caimans 96-93 in a classic. Friday's championship contest should feature no shortage of drama as Bronx and Hostos prepare to leave everything on the floor in the quest for CUNYAC supremacy.
 
Print Friendly Version