The New York University men's basketball team fell to Baruch College 83-70 in the Championship Game of the NYU Tip-Off Tournament on Sunday, November 18, at the Sportsplex in Manhattan. 

The Violets (2-1) suffered their first loss of the season, while the Bearcats are now 3-1.

NYU never trailed in the first half following Bobby Hawkinson's game-opening layup. The Violets led by as many as eight points, 33-25, after Cade Hoppe connected on a pair of free throws with 4:34 remaining. But, the Bearcats ran off a 13-5 streak to tie the game at 38-38.

The Violets reclaimed the lead on a pair of free throws by Cameron Moore followed by one from Dom Cristiano and NYU went into the break with a 41-38 advantage. 

However, the second half was a completely different story. Baruch scored the first five points of the second stanza and took its first lead of the game. The Bearcats increased their lead to as many 14 points as the Violets struggled from the field. NYU shot only 36.4% (8-of-22) from the field over the final 20 minutes after logging 52% (13-of-25) accuracy in the first half.

"We got punched in that second half and we didn't respond," said Head Coach Dagan Nelson. 

Another determining factor in the contest was NYU's inability to hang onto the ball over the final 20 minutes. After committing just six turnovers in the first half, the Violets turned the ball over 15 times in the second.

"You're not going to win many games with that many turnovers," Nelson explained. "Especially against a good senior-led team like Baruch."  

Four Violets scored in double figures, led by Alex Casieri's 13 points. The freshman connected on all five of his shots from the field, including a perfect 3-of-3 from three-point range.

Hoppe, who collected a team-high nine rebounds, finished with 13 points. Cristiano had 11 points, while Hawkinson scored 10 and pulled down eight rebounds.

Both Cristiano and Jimmy Martinelli, who scored a team-high 18 points in Saturday's win over Sarah Lawrence College, were both named to the All-Tournament Team 
 
The Violets return to action this Tuesday, November 20, when they travel uptown to face John Jay College at 8pm.