BROOKLYN, NY - The Medgar Evers College men's basketball team hosted Baruch College for a CUNY Athletic Conference game at the Cougars Cave on Wednesday, January 8.

The Cougars (4-10, 1-3 CUNYAC) fell to the Bearcats (8-4, 4-0) by a final score of 78-73.

The first half showed how evenly-matched the two teams were, with the lead changing hands eight times in the opening 20 minutes. After Keison McIntosh's fifth three-pointer of the half, and a fast break Jonathan Grimsley layup, the Cougars took their largest lead of the half, a 40-31 lead with 21 seconds left.

At the end of the half, the score was 40-34 Medgar. The Cougars were shooting only 33% (13-39) from the field compared to 48% (12-25) for Baruch, but Medgar had grabbed 13 offensive rebounds and 26 total rebounds in the first half, compared to just 3 and 18 for the Bearcats.

The black-and-gold led for much of the second half, and their lead stretched to its largest size of the game as they took a 59-44 lead with 12 minutes left after a Naquavah Jackson layup.

However, within three minutes, the Cougar lead had been cut to two points. Medgar held onto the lead for the next several minutes, and only relinquished the lead when Baruch scored an and-one layup and the ensuing free throw with under two minutes left to take a 72-71 lead, on a play that was about as close to a charge as could be.

Grimsley hit a jumper on the next possession to regain the lead, before Baruch responded with a layup of their own. Unfortunately, the Cougars were unable to score for the rest of the game and fell by five points in the end.

McIntosh finished with a team-best 24 points, hitting eight three-pointers in the contest. Grimsley (16 points, 11 rebounds) and Mousa Sinera (13 points, 12 rebounds) each recorded a double-double in the contest.

The Cougars return to action tomorrow, when they host John Jay College at the Cougars Cave at 8 pm.