The men’s basketball team won the conference’s regular season title for the first time in NYIT history, rebounding from a last place finish in the 2005-2006 East Coast Conference (ECC) season. In addition, the top-seeded Bears became the fifth NYIT men’s basketball team to win 20 games in one season, despite having just one starter from last year. Although they defeated University of New Haven 66-59 in the ECC quarterfinals, the Bears suffered a heartbreaking 65-59 overtime loss to eventual tournament champions Adelphi University.

But that defeat did not dampen the team’s success as head coach Sal Lagano was named the ECC Coach of the Year, sophomore Bryant Lassiter and senior Miguel Pierre-Fanfan each earned ECC All-Conference First Team honors, and junior Kirk Stewart earned All-Conference Third Team honors.

For the women’s basketball team, a young roster and season-ending injury for starting guard Emily Bolling could not keep the talented group from reaching the ECC tournament for the third consecutive season. Despite a 63-58 loss to second-seeded C.W. Post in the quarterfinals, starting guard Anette Johansen earned ECC All-Conference Second Team honors.”

Sophomore Bryant Lassiter led the Bears in field goals, three-pointers, free throws, assists, and steals.