OLD WESTBURY, NY (www.OLDWESTBURYPANTHERS.com) - The SUNY College at Old Westbury men's basketball team won its fourth consecutive game on Wednesday evening, besting the Brooklyn Bulldogs by the score of 81-70 at Clark Athletic Center. Old Westbury improved to 6-2 on the season while dropping Brooklyn to 2-6.
Both teams got off to a rough start, each missing their first six shots of the game, which showed in a poor shooting first half. Brooklyn held a short lived four point lead with 13:25 on the first half clock before the Panthers responded with an 11-0 run from 12:58 to 8:55 to take a 16-9 advantage. Brooklyn scored the next six points and Old Westbury stormed back with an 11-2 run to go up 27-17 late in the opening half.
Holding a 27-22 halftime lead, the Panthers started the second half with a 13-5 run to go up 13 with 13:08 remaining. Following
Omari Trebuse's layup with 9:34 left that put Old Westbury ahead, 51-39, Brooklyn rattled off a 13-2 run over the next 2:29 to make it a 54-52 game. Old Westbury answered with a deciding 15-4 spurt to put the game out of reach, 69-55, for its largest lead of the game with 2:25 showing on the second half clock.
Tyrik Tucker, the seventh leading scorer in the nation, Tucker reached the 20-point mark for the eighth time this season with by pouring in a game-high 23 points to lead the Panthers scoring attack.
Floyd Leroy and
Al Alexander each added 13 points, while
Omari Trebuse scored 11. Leroy also pulled down a game-high 15 boards to record his first double-double of the season. Tucker finished with nine rebounds, five assists and two steals while
PJ Page swatted a game-high three blocks and Leroy and
Ray Parker each nabbed three steals.
Egzon Gjonbalaj scored 18 points to lead Brooklyn, while Jai Kellman followed with 16.
After a dismal shooting first half for both teams, both Old Westbury (55.2%) and Brooklyn (45.7%) warmed up in the second half. For the game, Old Westbury outshot the Bulldogs, 41 percent (25-61) to 34.3 percent (24-70). The Panthers hit 71.1 percent from the free throw line (27-38), compared to Brooklyn's 70.4 percent (19-27). Old Westbury connected on 30.8 percent from three point territory (4-13) to Brooklyn's 17.6 percent showing (3-17). The Panthers won the boards battle, 43-42, and converted 22 Brooklyn miscues into 22 points.
ALVERNIA CRUSADERS UP NEXT FOR THE PANTHERS: Old Westbury returns to the hardwood for a non-conference matchup on the road December 30 against the Alvernia Crusaders in Reading, Pennsylvania. Opening tip is set for 4 p.m. from Physical Education Center.
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