• Box Score

OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. (Dec. 7, 2011) - Junior Kayvon Roberts (Corona, N.Y.) tied the game-high 27 points as NYIT men's basketball fell 87-72 to neighboring C.W. Post in the Bears' East Coast Conference season opener. With the loss, NYIT dropped to 2-6 on the season and 0-1 in league play while C.W. Post improved to 7-1 overall and 2-0 in ECC action. 

Junior transfer Antoine Brown (Washington, D.C.) added 17 points for NYIT and freshman Nick Fessenden had a team-best nine rebounds and three blocks. For the Pioneers, Stefan Bonneau tied the game-high 26 points and Tobin Carberry added 20 points while shooting 8-for-8 from the charity stripe. Tyuan William registered the game's only double-double with 14 points and a game-high 18 rebounds. 

Free throw shooting and rebounding were the key factors contributing to C.W. Post's win. The Pioneers shot 71% from the free throw line compared to the Bears' 47.1%. C.W. Post also held a 47-to-34 rebounding margin. 

C.W. Post took early control and climbed to a 29-9 lead midway through the first half. The Pioneers held the 20-point advantage twice with the second time after free throws by Vaughn Allen at 10:14. But the Bears did not give up fighting and put together a 17-4 run over a span of five minutes that cut the gap to five points 40-35 with 1:16 to play. The rally was sparked by a layup from Brown and was fueled on baskets by Roberts, Dominic Scurry (Ozone Park, N.Y.), Russell Holloway (Budd Lake, N.J.), and Azel Prather Jr. (Glenarden, Md.). NYIT would trail 42-35 at half time. 

NYIT continued to claw away at the lead but the closest the Bears would get was within three-points, 49-46, with 14:22 remaining. C.W. Post gained an 11-point edge 63-52 on a layup by William. From there, the Pioneers consistently held onto a double-digit lead and won 87-72 on a free throw by Terry Coleman.

The Bears return to action on Wednesday, Dec. 14 when they host the Penmen of Southern New Hampshire. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Recreation Hall.