The SUNY Old Westbury men's basketball team nearly erased a 15-point halftime deficit this afternoon against Connecticut College from the Clark Athletic Center, but the effort would not be enough and the contest would end in a 72-57 loss. The Panthers sit at 1-7 on the season while the Camels improve to 6-1 in the victory.

The contest began with a fast pace and saw baskets exchanged on both sides. Seven minute in, Connecticut maintained a two possession advantage, 20-14. Field goals from Joel Ofori and Jermaine King Jr. paired with a three-pointer from Latimer Taylor Jr. brought the Panthers within one, 22-21, with 8:30 remaining in the first half. The Camels would then fire off a 15-point run that spanned seven minutes of game time to put the home team at a 41-26 deficit at halftime. 

The beginning of the second half would see the control turn over to Old Westbury. The Panthers strung together a 19-4 run to cut the deficit to just two points, 47-45, through the first seven minutes of the frame. Yigit Balta and Bradley Young Jr. each accounted for five points in the run. A 9-1 response from the Camels would give them a double digit lead, 56-46 headed into the final nine minutes. A jumper from King would make it an eight point deficit with 4:41 on the clock, but Connecticut would maintain a double digit lead through much of the final minutes.

Ofori led the Panthers with 15 points, shooting 6-of-8 from the field and adding 10 rebounds for a double-double. King followed with 12 points and topped the contest with six assists. Imole Akinwale followed with nine points and added a team-leading three steals. Christian Thomas pulled down five boards in the effort. 

Old Westbury steps out of divisional play next week, heading to a contest at Hofstra University on Wednesday, December 10, at 7:00 p.m. from Hempstead, New York.