Box Score
WESTBURY, NY– Marcel Esonwune recorded a double-double, scoring 22 points and grabbing 14 rebounds, while also blocking four shots but it was not enough as the York College men’s basketball team fell to SUNY Old Westbury 85-78 in the opening game of the 2009-10 season.
The Cardinals shot 52 percent from the field and out-rebounded the Panthers 36-22 but were done in by 29 turnovers. The Panthers converted the 29 turnovers into 33 points.
The two teams went back and forth throughout most of the first half with the Cardinals going into the locker room with a narrow one-point edge. Senior Nicholas Hamilton-Lopez drained a three-pointer with under a minute before halftime to put York ahead 46-45.
However, things quickly turned in the second half. Old Westbury opened the second half with a 14-6 run, which was capped off with a three-pointer by the Panthers Hakiem George at the 13:40 mark. The Panthers then opened up a ten-point cushion, their largest of the game, after a lay-up by Patrick Bonna with 10:37 to play.
York clawed back to within four points with 1:20 to play when Elijah Evelyn converted a lay-up but York turned the ball over on their next two possessions and could not get any closer. Old Westbury hit its free throws downs the stretch to seal the win.
Hamilton-Lopez scored 19 points and was 5-8 from downtown, while junior Omari Phipps netted 11 points and pulled down six rebounds. The Panthers had six players in double-figures led by George with 19.
York will take on Eastern University at the Montclair State Tip-Off Tournament on Friday at 5:00 p.m.