BROOKLYN, NY - The Medgar Evers College men's basketball team hosted the 2nd Annual Dr. Carol V. DeCosta Tournament at the Cougars Cave on Saturday and Sunday, December 28-29.

The Cougars defeated the Spartans of D'Youville College in the first round, 119-13 in overtime. The team advanced to face Oneonta, who defeated North Carolina Wesleyan in the first round. In the Championship game, Medgar fell to the Red Dragons by a final score of 108-83.

MEC vs. D'YOUVILLE

The Cougars first took on D'Youville College on Saturday. The Cougars shot a scorching 55.6% from the field in the first half playing a lovely style of offense, totaling 17 assists on 20 made baskets. Medgar also outrebounded D'Youville in the first half 30-16, and the Cougars led 58-47 at halftime.

The Medgar lead stretched as high as 14 points with a trio of Naquavah Jackson free throws with around 10 minutes left, and the Cougars still held a 13-point lead after Jonathan Grimsley finished a layup with eight minutes left.

At that point, the Cougars struggled to hit shots, and D'Youville went on a 21-5 run to make the score 94-91 Spartans with two and a half minutes to go.

With 55 seconds left, D'Youville hit a three-pointer to make the score 98-94 Spartans, and things looked bleak for the Cougars. However, Dimitri Weeks hit a fall-away jumper off the dribble with 45 seconds left, Isaiah Garvey-Mwazi forced a steal off the inbounds pass, and Marcus Lewis hit a layup to tie the game with around 30 seconds to go.

Both teams had a chance to break the tie, but both were unable to convert and the game went into overtime. 

In overtime, D'Youville's offense and legs grew tired due to the fast pace and length of the game, and the Cougars were able to get stops and hit their free throws down the stretch to seal the victory in the final minute of overtime.

Grimsley totaled 42 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists, while Mousa Sinera recorded his fourth double-double in a row and his fifth of the season, totaling 13 rebounds and a season-high 15 points. Jackson finished with 14 points on perfect 4-4 shooting, including 3-3 from behind the arc, while Keison McIntosh and Devin Berrios each totaled 12 points.

Lewis and Elias Scott each totaled six assists apiece.

MEC vs. ONEONTA

The black-and-gold took on Oneonta in the championship game the following day, and quickly jumped out to am 18-10 lead after a Jafet Thomas jump shot. This was their biggest lead of the game, and soon, by the end of the first half, it was the Cougars down by 8, trailing 49-41.

There was still hope for the Cougars, who hit just one three-pointer in the first half - Grimsley's first triple of the year. If the Cougar offense heated up, they could have taken this game.

However, Oneonta scored the first 12 points out of intermission, and the Cougar deficit was quickly 20 within three minutes of the second half. Medgar stopped the bleeding, and fought back within 14 points after a pair of James Julien three-pointers, but their deficit never fell below 14 for the rest of the game as the Red Dragons took home the championship trophy.

Grimsley, who was named to the All-Tournament Team, finished with a team-best 20 points and eight rebounds, while Jafet Thomas contributed 16 points and seven rebounds.

The Cougars return to action this Saturday, as they host Lehman College in a 3 pm CUNYAC contest at the Cougars Cave.