Bobby Hawkinson (Frankfort, IL/Marist) recorded a massive 22-point, 22-rebound double double and Zay Freeney (Phoenix, AZ/South Mountain) poured in a career-high 28 points as the New York University Men's Basketball Team notched an impressive, 123-97 win over Hunter College on Friday, December 10, at the Sportsplex in Manhattan.

The two top-scorers highlighted five Violets in double-figures as the team set a new program record for the most points scored in a single game. NYU's previous record was 122 points, scored in a 122-59 win over Syracuse University on December 15, 1961.

"I'm proud of our team for closing out the first semester the right way," said Head Coach Dagan Nelson. "Setting a school record is an exciting accomplishment!"

NYU (8-1) shot 50.5 percent (47-for-93) from the floor and 45.8 percent (11-for-24) from range en route to the record-setting performance.

This one didn't have the makings of a historic night at first, as Hunter established a 17-13 lead with 12:44 left in the first after a pair of Ryan Lau free-throws. Back-and-forth play followed, with multiple lead changes and ties, with Hunter jumping ahead 37-36 on a Luka Jakic long-ball with 6:54 on the clock.

The Hawks (3-5) were clinging to a two-point edge with three minutes remaining in the half, but NYU mounted a late, 16-0 run over the final 2:43 for a 61-47 advantage at intermission.

Hunter came within 11 points twice in the opening two minutes of the second but that was as close as they'd come for the remainder of the contest. The Violets' lead grew to 20 (88-68) when Alex Maticiuc (Monaco, Monte-Carlo/St. Thomas More School (Montville, CT)) finished a layup with 13:10 left in the game.

NYU kept on rolling and Freeney's fourth triple of the night with 29 seconds to play put an exclamation point on a night to remember.

Freeney shot 10-for-19 overall and 4-for-9 from three for his career-high 28 points while Hawkinson dominated inside, collecting seven offensive boards and shooting 9-for-13 from the field.

Maticiuc contributed 16 points and six rebounds on very efficient 8-for-12 shooting. Hayden Peek (Poughkeepsie, NY/Choate Rosemary Hall) also dropped a career high, scoring 15 points off the bench.

Jacob Sussman (Mount Olive, NJ/The Lawrenceville School) pitched in 11 points of his own while Riley Demps (New Orleans, LA/Isidore Newman) added nine on 3-for-5 shooting.

This historic victory concludes the Violets' schedule for the 2021 calendar year. They continue the 2021-22 campaign on Sunday, January 2, 2022 against Salisbury University in Bethlehem, PA, as part of Moravian University's Steel Club Classic.