The New York University men's basketball team was defeated 84-80 in double overtime by the College of Staten Island in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Metro Championship Final on Sunday night, March 8, at Brooklyn College in Brooklyn, NY.
NYU finished its season with a 19-9 record, including an 8-6 mark in the ultra-competitive University Athletic Association (UAA).
The Violets fell behind early as CSI took a 37-29 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Hakeem Harris led the way for NYU in the first half, tallying 15 points. The junior guard would finish the contest with a team-high 26 points.
NYU was able to battle back in the second half behind the dominant play of junior captain
Evan Kupferberg. The forward tallied 20 points and tied a career-high with a game-best 17 rebounds despite playing the majority of the game in foul trouble.
CSI held for the last possession as the game was tied in both the second half and the first overtime. NYU was able to get a stop each time to force another period. In the second overtime, the Violets were down six with just under two minutes remaining, but were able to cut the lead to two and had the ball with 4.6 seconds left.
Joe Timmes inbounded the ball to the far three-point line where
Costis Gontikas caught it and found
Max Ralby for a chance to win. Ralby's shot did not go, however, and the Dolphins held on to take their second consecutive ECAC Metro crown.
Highlights:-
Patrick Burns continued his successful tournament, scoring eight points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
- Gontikas finished the contest with 15 points and 10 boards. The junior center was 7-of-8 from the foul line.
- Ralby and Timmes helped NYU win the rebound battle, collecting eight and six, respectively. Ralby was also a force on defense, tallying three steals.
