Any Given Thursday: 2006 Bronx Broncos
By Eldridg Chavez
It’s February 16, 2006, we’re at Kingsborough Community College Gymnasium, in Brooklyn, New York. The fifth-seeded Bronx Broncos locked in a dead tie against reigning NJCAA National Champions, Hostos Caimans, 63-63 in double overtime. Broncos sophomore forward
Kenard Merrick has the ball at the right wing with fifty-three seconds remaining. Before we find out how this David versus Goliath matchup ends, let’s find out how we got here first.
In 2005, in just their third year as a program, the Caimans became the first CUNY school since 1998 (Kingsborough Men’s Tennis) to win a national title, defeating Joliet Junior College, 73-71.
“This is a mark in history that I will never forget,” then Vice President of Student Affairs at Hostos,
Dr. Ben Corpus said. “We worked incredibly hard over the past three years to assemble a quality program that reflects the potential of our community and students, and I am elated to have reached this point in such a short period of time.”
In 2006, Hostos were led by two CUNYAC All-Stars,
Miguel Garcia and
Ryan Exum, and the CUNYAC Coach of the Year,
Robert Holford. Holford guided the Caimans to a 20-6 mark, the best in the conference, climbing as high as number one in the NJCAA Division III national rankings and remained in the top-15 at season's end.
For the Broncos, it was an uphill battle all season. Guard
Amar Reynolds navigated Bronx to a 7-20 record, averaging 11.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game while earning CUNYAC All-Star recognition.
In the final regular season game, Bronx needed a win against Queensborough to be the fifth seed and set up a match against Hostos in the semifinals. The Broncos made quick work, winning in convincing fashion, 76-56.
In the semifinals, Hostos erased an early 9-4 deficit and took its first lead of the game at the 15:02 mark on a jumper by Exum. The Broncos reclaimed the lead and led 17-13 at the 11:16 mark after a field goal by Reynolds. Bronx held a lead until sophomore forward
Isi Olaleye scored for Hostos with 9:03 left to make it, 18-17. The Caimans then outscored Bronx by a 9-3 margin to close out the half with a 27-20 advantage.
Bronx erased the halftime deficit and took a 40-36 advantage with 8:16 left in the second half. The Broncos extended their lead to 44-39 with 6:57 remaining and looked to have control of the game, but the tandem of Exum and Garcia gave the lead back to Hostos, 47-44, with a pair of free throws and consecutive three pointers, respectively.
Bronx hit 5-of-6 free throws to grab a 53-52 lead, including the last two coming from
Lance Evans with 58 seconds remaining. Exum hit clutch free throws to even the score at 53 with 49.8 seconds left. Both teams had opportunities to win the game in regulation but could not convert.
In the first overtime, Bronx led 59-57 with 1:42 remaining, but Caiman’s forward
Matthew Pink hit two clutch free throws with 1:22 left to even the score at 59-59 and force an extra session.
The second overtime saw both teams lockdown on defense, tallying eight points between both sides up until the final minute. Tied at 63, with 53 seconds left, Broncos forward Merrick takes his shot from the wing. He knocks down the jumper, breaking the tie, and hammering the final nail in the coffin. The Broncos added four more points on two uncontested lay-ups. David beats Goliath, 69-63.
With the win, the Broncos went on to the CUNYAC Championship game, becoming the first five-seed since 1993 to reach the title game.
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