OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. (Dec. 1, 2010) – Led by reigning ECC Player of the Week Jerrell Walker’s (Stockton, Calif.) game-high 16 points, NYIT men’s basketball defeated St. Thomas Aquinas 50-45 in its East Coast Conference opener Wednesday night at Recreation Hall.

 

Sophomore Kayvon Roberts (Corona, N.Y.) added 14 points for the Bears, who improved to 2-1 on the season. Junior Jahari McKnight (El Sobrante, Calif.) tied the game-high eight rebounds. For the Spartans (0-4, 0-1 ECC), Justin Brown registered 14 points, while Jason Halloway added 11 points.

 

After rallying from a five-point deficit in the first half, NYIT dominated the scoreboard despite STAC’s attempts to knot the score. With a crowd pleasing dunk from sophomore Dominic Scurry (Ozone Park, N.Y.), the Bears cut the gap to one point, 10-9, with 11:12 left in the first half. Walker then gave the Bears a one-point edge, 11-10, on a layup off an offensive rebound with 9:52 to play. From there NYIT compiled a six-point run over the course of two minutes to lead 17-10. However, the Spartans fought back to trail by just two-points, 20-18, going into halftime.

 

The Bears began the second half with Roberts stealing the ball and producing a layup that opened a 9-2 run that made the score 29-20. It was their largest lead and the Bears produced it thrice more. The last happened with 4:44 on the clock. Roberts converted a three-point play to make the score 42-33. However, STAC did not give up and brought the game within one-point, 46-45, with just 1:42 remaining. Yet, solid Bears defense prevailed and another slam dunk from Scurry and back-to-back free throws from Roberts brought the game to a close, 50-45.

 

NYIT returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 4 against Queens College in ECC action. Tip off in for the men’s contest is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Recreation Hall. The women’s team follows with a 4 p.m. tip.