New York, NY - The John Jay men's basketball team closed out 2024 on a high note on Tuesday night, defeating the St. Joseph's University - Long Island (SJLI) Golden Eagles in its final game of the calendar year.

The win marks the Bloodhounds' first over the Golden Eagles since the 2019-20 season and their third consecutive win at The Doghouse. This is the longest win streak at home for the Bloodhounds since 2019.

HOW IT HAPPENED

St. Joe's opened the game on its best run of the evening, outscoring John Jay 11-3 in the initial four minutes.

Three-point shooting propelled the Bloodhounds out of that hole and throughout the night. The hosts shot 60% from beyond the arc in the next stretch, and 75% from the field, to give them their first lead of the game. Syl Granda opened the game 3-3 from three-point range, including two in that run to give his team a 21-19 advantage.

Granda continued to produce at the opposite end as the Bloodhounds looked to extend their lead. After Jeremiah Cardi connected on his first triple of the game, Granda swiped the ball off of SJLI's Kenny Rodriguez and fed Jamir Stewart for Stewart's first of the game and a 31-24 lead. 

The Golden Eagles pulled back within a single point in the final three minutes after Justin Forest scored five straight for the visitors. In the final seconds of the half, Cardi restored John Jay's two-possession lead with a buzzer-beating three that rolled around the cup and in as the horn sounded.

The Bloodhounds led 39-34 at the break. Granda led all players with 11 points on 3-4 shooting from three-point distance.

Coming out of the break, the home side matched its highest lead from the first half at the free-throw line. Three straight hits pushed the Bloodhounds to a 42-34 lead in the opening two minutes.

Granda continued to terrorize the Golden Eagles at both ends of the court in the final frame, driving to the rim on one possession, then forcing the steal and setting up Jordan Evelyn to do the same. Those baskets pushed the Bloodhound lead to ten points and forced SJLI's first timeout of the half.

John Jay shot over 55% from three-point range in the second half, helping the Bloodhounds to lead by as many as 14 points with just over 14 minutes to play.

St. Joe's meticulously cut away at the Bloodhound lead over the next eight minutes, benefitting from eight hit free throws on nine attempts. The Golden Eagles trailed by just four points with just under six minutes remaining in the second half.

The Bloodhounds continued to respond from behind the arc. On the next possession down the floor, Keyshawn Miller knocked down a corner three and he was knocked down in the process to set up the successful four-point play. Those four points kicked off a 10-1 run to put John Jay in front, 74-61, ahead of the four-minute mark.

Stewart and Evelyn combined for 6-6 from the free-throw line in the final minute to quell a late push by the Golden Eagles, as John Jay earned the 87-77 win. The victory improved the Bloodhounds' record to 8-3 headed into 2025.

This marks the first time the program has scored at least 80 points in three consecutive games since 2018.

TEAM LEADERS

Six total Bloodhounds finished in double digits, the most in any game this season. Granda led all players with 21 points, his second consecutive appearance hitting that scoring total. He also finished with a game-high nine rebounds and three steals.

Stewart continued to impress as the sixth man, finishing with 15 points on 50% three-point shooting.

Cardi finished in double-figure scoring for the second straight appearance, closing with 13 points on 3-5 shots from distance.

Evelyn led all players with six assists and added 11 points. Miller and Elijah Holmes rounded out the scoring with 10 points each.

NEXT UP: The Bloodhounds return to the floor on Jan. 3, 2025, on the road at Westfield State. Tip-off from Westfield, Mass. is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.