BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- The Medgar Evers men's basketball team begins a critical four-game CUNYAC stretch to kick off the new year, starting Sunday afternoon as part of a doubleheader against Baruch College at the Cougars Cave.

The Cougars (4-7, 1-2 CUNYAC) seek to avoid back-to-back losses after dropping a 78-75 decision to DeSales on Tuesday. They are facing a Bearcats team (6-4, 2-1 CUNYAC) who is seeking their third consecutive win and their fifth win in six games. Last season, Baruch swept the season series with an 82-55 win January 3rd at Medgar Evers then a 74-43 victory over the Cougars on January 30th.

This matchup showcases the conference's top scorer in Matthew Lee (Bloomfield, N.J.), who averages 29.5 points per game, against a stingy Baruch defense who holds opponents to just 71.8 points per game (second in CUNYAC). The Cougars will look to use their rebounding edge to control the contest, averaging a conference-high 49.1 boards per game. Medgar Evers freshman Andron Thomas (Brooklyn, N.Y.) tops the CUNYAC with 10.2 rebounds per game along with 11.7 points per contest, but the Bearcats are led on the scoring and rebounding fronts by Chimaechi Ekekeubor with 16.2 points per game and 9.7 rebounds per game.

Tip time is set for 4:00 p.m. after the women's game at 2:00 p.m.