The men's basketball team lost a tough one to Medgar Evers College, 82-80, on Friday night in Brooklyn, NY. The Bloodhounds fall to 3-20 and 2-12 in the CUNY Athletic Conference. The Cougars improve to 10-12 overall and 7-6 in the conference. 

Junior Kiernan Hayes recorded a team-high 20 points, shooting 8-for-12 from the field, and five rebounds. Junior Jesse Higgins registered 18 points, five rebounds, a team-high five assists, and one steal. Freshman Essien Epps added 18 points, four rebounds, and a game-high three steals. Senior Calvin Ingram grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Junior Ronald Merriwether and freshman Jordan Aiken came off the bench to combine for 15 points and six rebounds. 

The first three minutes of the game went back-and-forth as there were five lead changes. Down by four, John Jay scored seven straight points to lead 15-12. Medgar Evers responded on a 6-2 run and the score was tied 20-20 with 10:12 left in the first half. The Bloodhounds followed on a 6-0 run to go up by six. With less than five minutes left, the Cougars fought back to tie the game at 31 apiece. The hosts ended the half on a 5-0 run to go into halftime leading 42-38.

John Jay opened the second scoring five straight points to take a one-point lead. Up by one with 14:04 on the clock, the Bloodhounds went on a 6-0 run to increase their lead to 57-50. Three minutes later, John Jay led 65-56 with 9:51 left. The Cougars fought back to score seven straight points to trail by two. Leading by four, Medgar Evers rallied to tie the game 76-76 with just over two minutes remaining. With the score tied 78-78, the Cougars nailed a three-pointer with six seconds left to go up by three. Higgins made two free-throws but Medgar Evers would go on to sweep the season series. 

John Jay went 31-for-66 (47%) from the floor, 6-for-18 (33.3%) from behind the arc, and 12-for-22 (54.5%) from the free-throw line. 

The Bloodhounds visit York College on Tuesday, February 9, for a conference game at 8:00 pm.