Box Score
The Lehman College men's basketball team (8-16 Overall, 5-7 CUNYAC) were turned back by the Baruch College Bearcats (19-6 Overall, 11-2 CUNYAC) by the score of 69-68 Saturday afternoon in a conference match. A buzzer-beating three-point basket by Baruch College's Tammer Farid gave the Bearcats the dramatic one-point triumph over the Lightning.
Prior to the game, the Lehman College Vice President of Student Affairs, Mr. Jose Magdaleno, along with the Director of Athletics at Lehman College, Dr. Martin L Zwiren, and head coach Steven Schulman and his staff took a few moments to honor a pair of seniors. The first senior was team manager Thomas Garcia who served as the men's team manager this past season and the women's team manager the previous two seasons. The second and final senior was Perry Daniel, as he spent one year with the Lightning and has had a memorable season for the unit. Both players were honored with commemorative plaques.
Despite the loss for the Lightning, Daniel posted a game-high 18 points (4-4 FT) to go along with six rebounds and three assists. Sophomore forward Jonathan DeJesus netted 12 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished five assists. Patryk Odedina helped with eleven points, four blocks three rebounds. Although the Lightning won the turnover battle by committing 13 while forcing 19 Bearcat mistakes, they were out-rebounded by Baruch College 45-33. Both teams shot 42 percent from the field. Following the game, Lehman College head coach Steven Schulman gave his thoughts on the day.
“Our Senior Day presentation was terrific, and I felt as though we played our hearts out once again, but it was a last-second dagger that did us in today,” Schulman said. “We really played very hard today and it's a shame we couldn't come out on top, but we don't have long to dwell on this one because we have a tough game against York College on Monday at 4:00pm and we want to now focus on that contest.”
In the Win for the Bearcats of Baruch College, Sean Loftus led the team with 14 points, nine rebounds and three steals. Farid also helped with 14 points and three rebounds. Senior forward George Kunkel chipped in with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
The Lightning return to action Monday evening as the team travels to Queens, NY to take York College in their regular season and CUNYAC finale. Game-time scheduled for 4:00pm. With today's defeat, the Lightning can finish no higher than the No. 6 seed in the upcoming CUNYAC tournament (Lehman will finish as a No. 6 or No. 7 seed) and the team will travel to Brooklyn College or Baruch College for first round action.
