The Bloodhounds fell to the College of New Jersey, 75-58, in their season opener in Ewing, NJ. 

In his collegiate debut, freshman Tyrone Dennis recorded a team-high 17 points, four assists, and four steals. Sophomore Essien Epps finished with 10 points, six rebounds, and four steals. Also in his first collegiate game, freshman Doug Levy registered nine points, a team-high seven rebounds, and John Jay's lone block. Junior MiKing Richardson added nine points, four rebounds, a team-high four assists, and one steal in his Bloodhound debut. Freshman Wyatt Harkins, also in his first collegiate game, picked up six points and senior Geno Ware grabbed five rebounds. 

Levy opened the game with a three-pointer to give John Jay an early lead. Trailing 10-4, TCNJ went on a 7-0 run to take their first lead of the contest. Levy hit a jumper but the hosts scored nine straight points to take a 20-13 advantage with 12:42 left in the first half. Trailing by seven, Dennis drilled a three-pointer and Epps made a layup to cut the lead down to 26-24. Dennis converted on a layup to tie the game at 28 apiece with 5:04 remaining. The Lions responded on a 7-0 run and went into halftime leading 35-30. 

Harkins recorded the first points of the second half with a three-pointer. John Jay tied the game, 37-37 from a jumper by Epps. Dennis gave the Bloodhounds a one-point advantage after hitting his second three of the game. With the Lions leading 48-44 with 11:27 on the clock, the home team broke open the game on a 15-0 run to go up, 63-44. A three-pointer by sophomore Luciano Cruz-Fernandez cut the deficit to 10 but the Bloodhounds went into foul trouble and eventually fell by a final score of 75-58.

John Jay went 23-for-67 (34.3%) from the field, 7-for-24 (29.2%) from behind the arc, and 5-for-6 (83.3%) from the free throw line. 

The Bloodhounds will travel to Beaver Falls, PA on Friday for the Coaches vs. Cancer Tip Off Tournament. John Jay will face Geneva College with tip off scheduled for 7:30 pm.