JAMAICA, NY - The Medgar Evers College men's basketball team played a road CUNY Athletic Conference game at York College on Friday, January 17.

The Cougars (5-11, 2-4 CUNYAC) defeated the Cardinals (6-11, 2-5) by a final score of 84-83.

Medgar trailed 2-0 but quickly took a 3-2 lead and only expanded their lead throughout the first half. A Tyrese Gibbs jumper gave the Cougars a 12-point lead, their largest of the half, and at the intermission the black-and-gold held a 46-34 advantage. The 34 points allowed is tied for the fewest points allowed in any half by Medgar this season.

Devin Berrios had 21 points by halftime, having hit seven of his nine three-point attempts, dishing out four assists.

Keison McIntosh hit a three early in the second half to put Medgar up 13 points, but that was indeed the Cougars' largest lead of the game. York began to battle back, and seven minutes into the second half the Cardinals had pulled within five points.

Medgar never wavered though and expanded their lead to 12 points with just under six minutes left after a Mousa Sinera fast break layup. York then went on an 8-0 run over the next few minutes, and with three minutes left Medgar was nursing a four-point lead.

York continued to chip away and Medgar continuted to be resilient, but due to some missed free throws, York was able to pull within one point with seven seconds left. Marcus Lewis then hit one of two free throws to make the score 84-82 with a few seconds left. 

York was able to draw a foul with just one second left. The York student-athlete hit the first free throw, but missed the second free throw, and time expired with the Cougars escaping Queens with a one-point CUNYAC victory they desperately needed.

Berrios finished with a game-high 28 points on 10-16 shooting, adding seven assists, three rebounds and two steals. Naquavah Jackson chipped in with 19 points, four rebounds, and three assists, while Gibbs finished with 10 points, three assists, and three rebounds.

The Cougars return to action on Wednesday, January 22, for a home CUNYAC game at the Cougars Cave at 8 pm against Hunter College.