The men's basketball team lost to Manhattanville College, 91-80, on Friday night at the Doghouse. The Valiants improve to 8-5 on the year. The Bloodhounds fall to 2-12 overall. 

Freshman Essien Epps collected a team-high 22 points, five rebounds, a game-high five steals, two assists, and two blocks. Junior Jesse Higgins recorded 20 points, a game-high five assists, two rebounds, and two steals. Junior Kiernan Hayes registered 16 points and six rebounds. Senior Calvin Ingram grabbed a team-high eight rebounds and freshman Jordan Aiken added eight points and two steals. 

John Jay got off to a hot start as the Bloodhounds opened the game on a 7-2 run. Manhattanville cut the deficit down to one point but John Jay scored six straight points to increase the lead to 13-6 with 15:41 left in the half. Six minutes later, the visitors cut the lead to two. 

With 6:19 on the clock, the Valiants tied the game at 25 apiece. Manhattanville ended the half on a 25-7 run to lead 46-32 heading into the second half. 

Two minutes in, Epps made a layup to cut the lead 46-38. With 16:09 remaining, Manhattanville went ahead by 12. The Bloodhounds responded on a 7-0 run to get within five points. 

Halfway through the second half, the Valiants had a 63-51 advantage. The Bloodhounds made a late comeback but eventually fell by a final score of 91-80. 

John Jay finished 29-for-69 (42%) from the field, 6-for-14 (42.9%) from behind the arc, and 16-for-20 (80%) from the free-throw line. 

The Bloodhounds host Medgar Evers College on Wednesday, January 13, for a conference game at 8:00 pm at the Doghouse.