By: Michael L. Damon
mdamon@jjay.cuny.edu
(212) 237-8322
Box Score Box Score
New York, N.Y.— The game saw a combined fifty-one fouls called, and lasted nearly two hours in real time, but in the end, junior guard
Wilson Tenorio connected on a three point field goal at the buzzer to lift John Jay to victory as the Bloodhounds knocked off the New York City College of Technology (NYCCT) 78-77 in a thriller at Doghouse on Friday evening.
The win improves John Jay to 7-9 (2-3 CUNYAC) this season, while NYCCT falls to 1-12 (0-5 CUNYAC).
Tenorio's winning shot developed with under nine seconds on the clock and the Bloodhounds out of time outs.
NYCCT's Nathaniel Young was fouled to stop the clock with the Bloodhounds trailing 76-75. He connected on the first of two free throws. But the second attempt failed, leaving the visiting Yellow Jackets with just a two-point advantage.
Jerome Alexander pulled down the rebound before the ball came loose on the court for a moment. John Jay regained control with each second ticking away. With under four seconds, John Jay's
Jamar Harry had the ball near half court before tossing a quick pass to
Justin Alleyne on the right wing who found Tenorio open on the baseline in front of the Bloodhound bench. Tenorio's attempt was all net leading to a stampede of John Jay fans storming the court exuberantly in celebration as the Bloodhounds pulled out a win that seemed out of reach.
The Bloodhounds trailed by as much as six in the final thirty seconds.
NYCCT was up 74-68 with just thirty seconds remaining after a pair of free throws put them up by a half dozen.
The Bloodhounds cut the lead in half with twenty-three seconds left when Tenorio hit his first of two three point field goals in the final minute to make the score 74-71.
John Jay fouled to stop the clock, but the Yellow Jackets scored both free throws to give them a five point lead.
But an errant foul by NYCCT with fifteen seconds left stopped the clock putting Alexander at the line who connected on both free throws to make the score 76-73.
Then John Jay caught a gigantic break when Alleyne managed to get his hands on the ball to force a jump ball with the arrow possession in the Bloodhounds' direction.
On the ensuing possession, Alexander drove aggressively to the basket and connected on a jumper in the paint with nine seconds left to make the score 76-75 setting the stage for the dramatic ending.
Tenorio scored all of his eight points in the second half. Alexander led the Bloodhounds with 18 points in the win, followed by Harry with 14.
Matt Collins netted 13 off the bench and
Isaiah Holman scored 10.
Both teams scored thirty points in the paint and John Jay held a 25-19 advantage on points off turnovers.
John Jay led most of the first half and led by as much as twelve in the opening stanza before holding a 32-25 lead at halftime.
NYCCT quickly came back in the second half and the two schools were nip and tuck most of the way. The game saw eleven ties, but NYCCT took control in the final two and a half minutes.
Down 65-63, the Yellow Jackets took the lead on a three point field goal by Emanuel Adepoju with 2:40 to go.
The basket ignited a 7-0 run that gave NYCCT a 70-65 lead with 1:15 to play. The six point lead by the Yellow Jackets in the final thirty seconds was its largest of the night before the final Bloodhound rally.
NYCCT was led by Young with 19 points, followed by Donald Rodriguez was 16 off the bench.
Adepoju led the Yellow Jackets with 10 rebounds.
John Jay is back in action on Wed. Jan. 19 for a home game against York College at 7 p.m.
