New York, NY - The John Jay men's basketball team continued the homestand on Saturday afternoon, playing part in the Bloodhounds' first doubleheader in The Doghouse this season.
 

The men capped a non-conference twin bill with the program's first meeting with the Russell Sage College Gators.
 

After trailing for the majority of the first half, the Bloodhound offense exploded in the second half to earn the win.
 

HOW IT HAPPENED
 

After trailing in the opening minutes, the Bloodhounds tore off seven straight points to take their largest lead in the opening minutes. Keyshawn Miller drove to the rim to give his side the lead with his first basket of the game and Omar Calderon capped the run with his first three of the game, giving John Jay a 13-7 lead.
 

That lead held for just under six minutes, as the Gators went 5-6 from the field to retake the advantage with just under ten minutes.
 

Emmanuel Adenekan got on the board to help take the lead back in the final ten minutes of the half, hitting his first three of the game from the corner to put his side up by four.
 

The Bloodhounds struggled from the field down the stretch missing seven of nine attempts as the Gators surged ahead on a 19-9 run headed into the final two minutes.
 

Jamir Stewart and Syl Granda cut the seven-point deficit down to just one in the final minute, as Stewart continued a strong shooting week with another three-pointer.
 

John Jay trailed by just one, 36-37, at the half.
 

Granda came out shooting in the second half trying to get his team back in the game. After missing his first shot of the half, Granda pulled down his own rebound and converted for a jumper. He scored the Bloodhounds' next five points to maintain a one-possession deficit.
 

The Bloodhounds escalated their defensive pressure as they settled into the second half, paying off with points at the other end of the court. Stewart swiped the ball from Sage's Brandon Harris just before the 15-minute mark and drove to the basket, evening the game at 49-all.
 

Miller gave the Bloodhounds the lead for the first time in the half after securing a Granda three-point miss, pulling up for two points. The Bloodhounds led 51-49 with 13:20 remaining in the second half.
 

Granda cashed in at the free-throw line after earning the shots off of the team's second consecutive steal and the Bloodhounds continued to extend their lead in the second half. The home side led 55-49 at the under-12 media timeout.
 

The Bloodhounds stayed consistent out of the timeout, working the offense through the paint for three straight driving layups. John Jay pushed the lead to double digits, 63-51, in the final ten minutes.
 

Stewart and Miller continued to haunt the Gator offense, combining for eight steals in the game. The Bloodhounds totaled 14 steals for the game, the most this season and the most since the 2023 season opener.
 

Jeremiah Cardi earned his first steal of the game with just over seven minutes to play, setting up a scoring opportunity for Omar Calderon. His layup attempt was blocked, but Calderson secured his own rebound and kicked back to Cardi in the corner for his first three of the game.
 

Cardi's triple gave the Bloodhounds a 66-53 lead, their highest of the game, with 6:36 to play.
 

That shot was ultimately the final Bloodhound field goal of the game. The Gators found their rhythm offensively, attacking the rim possession after possession in the final minutes. Sage rattled off a 13-1 run on 4-6 shooting headed into the last minute of regulation.
 

Todd Williamson scored six of those 13 points, including the shot that cut the Bloodhound lead, 67-66, to just one point with 58 seconds remaining.
 

Despite Sage's Trevor Green scoring four points in the final minute, the Bloodhounds went 6-7 from the free-throw line as the Gators fouled for possession. The success at the line paid off for John Jay, with Stewart's final two free throws securing a 73-70 win for his team.
 

The win is the first of the season at The Doghouse and the program's first win over Russell Sage.
 

Syl Granda led all Bloodhounds with 18 points, making it a double-double with 11 rebounds.
 

Jamir Stewart was just behind with 17 points, going a perfect 8-8 from the free-throw line, and logging four steals.
 

NEXT UP: The Bloodhounds host Pratt Institute for Homecoming on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m., following women's basketball facing Amherst.