Box Score

NEW YORK, N.Y. (Feb. 22, 2019) - Tied 74-74 in the waning seconds of regulation, junior forward Benjamin Boateng drilled a floater from the foul line with 0.2 seconds left to lift top-seeded Baruch College to a thrilling 76-74 win against No. 2 seed College of Staten Island Friday night in the 2019 CUNYAC Men's Basketball Championship at the Hunter Sportsplex in New York City.

Following a CSI timeout with 4.7 seconds to go, red-shirt senior guard Bryler Paige inbounded the ball to senior guard Jack Sixsmith, who pushed the ball upcourt and found Boateng for the game-winning shot.

"I just ran the play that coach had us run," Boateng said. "I was thinking about my teammates. I know what Jack (Sixsmith) does. He's a passer. I just got open and threw up the shot. I have confidence in my shot. My teammates have confidence in my shot, but without my teammates, I would not have made that shot. It's as simple as that."

"It's still surreal to me. I can't believe it. I have 100 percent confidence in all of my teammates, and I draw a lot of attention, so it got him open and he can make shots like that. He has been doing it all year. I am very happy for him," said Baruch senior forward Andre Harris.

"We just wanted to create some confusion," stated Baruch Head Coach John Alesi about the final play. "Have it be something they couldn't match up to. We wanted to try to get the ball up the floor as quickly as we could. Jack made a great read to find Ben and Ben...tough shot."

Prior to the break in action, Staten Island possessed the ball, trailing 74-71. Junior guard Christian Taylor then pulled up from the right wing and buried a contested three-pointer to even the score, setting the stage for Boateng's heroics.

The game featured a total of 14 tied scores, 10 of which came in the second half alone, and nine lead changes.

CSI got out to a hot start, jumping out to an 18-8 lead in the first 5:55. Sophomore guard Rigaud Destime nailed back-to back threes in the run. Freshman guard Andrew Kartalis added a trey, as well.

However, Baruch fired back with a 16-4 response in a near seven-minute spurt to go ahead 24-22 at the 8:08 mark. Harris accounted for nine points in the outburst. He finished the game with 28 points on 10-of-18 shooting, en route to being named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

Harris wasn't done there in the first half. He sent the Bearcats into halftime with 37-34 advantage, after knocking down a three-pointer just as time expired.

"He's a gamer," Alesi said about Harris. "He's come a long way in a year. He has made some great strides. I am just really proud of him. I am proud of all of them."

In addition to his title-clinching shot, Boateng provided 14 points and 10 rebounds in 26 minutes off the bench for Baruch. Paige and senior guard William Sixsmith scored nine points apiece.

Meanwhile, Destime had another outstanding night for CSI, pouring in 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field. Freshman forward Chamald Martin added 13 points and six rebounds. Junior guard Adeola Latunji made 5-of-10 field goals for 10 points and crashed the glass for 11 rebounds in posting a double-double.

Baruch will now await its fate, as to where it is seeded for the NCAA Division III Championship. The selection show will air Monday (Feb. 25) at 12:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.
2019 CUNYAC All-Tournament Team
Most Valuable Player: Andre Harris, Baruch
Benjamin Boateng, Baruch
Bryler Paige, Baruch
Rigaud Destime, Staten Island
Christian Taylor, Staten Island
Anthony McClean, Brooklyn
Essien Epps, John Jay