Herkimer, New York - After punching their ticket to the program's first NJCAA Tournament appearance since 2020 with an upset of NJCAA Division III No. 13 nationally-ranked Dutchess Community College, the top seed in the Region XV Men's Basketball Championship to capture their first Region title in four seasons the Hostos Community College men's basketball team drew the No. 12 seed in the 2024 NJCAA Divison III Men's Basketball Tournament at Herkimer College in Herkimer, New York on March 13thth against the top team in the nation during the regular season in fifth seed Brookdale Community College. 

The 22-9 Caimans come into the Tournament red hot, riding a nine-game winning streak with notable victories over two nationally ranked opponents, upsetting NJCAA Division III No. 13 ranked Dutchess Community College in the 2024 Region XV Championship 92-84 and No. 14 ranked Quincy College 102-86.

Hostos Community College knows the challenge ahead of them, facing 27-1 and NJCAA Division III No. 1 ranked Brookdale Community College, who sports the nation's No. 1 offense at 97.5 points per game. 

The Caimans can score with the best of them, averaging 87.5 points per game, which is ninth in the country. They have had six 100-point scoring efforts, including a season-best 129 points in a three-overtime thriller against Kingsborough Community College on November 9th.

Hostos Community College has three players averaging double-digit scoring efforts, led by freshman guard Tyrese Conway, 2024 Region XV All-Region Honorable Mention, and CUNYAC All-Star, who leads them in scoring with 15.9. Conway is a force on defense, leading the Caimans with 92 steals, which is fourth nationally, and 47 blocks, which is also tops on Hostos. He is also second on the team in rebounding, with 231 boards and 103 assists on the season.

Sophomore TeAmo Ebron is playing his best basketball of the season and comes into the Tournament fresh off capturing the 2024 Region XV Tournament's Most Outstanding Player after posting his seventh double-digit assist game of the season and a double-double with a team-high 17 points and a game-high 13 assists while grabbing nine boards in the contest which was also a team-high.

Ebron, an NJCAA Division III Men's Basketball Player of the Week and 2024 Region XV All-Region XV First Team selection, is third in the country in assists with a team-best 195 dimes on the season and is second in scoring on the Caimans with 14.6 points per game average with two triple-doubles this season against Kingsborough Community College on November 9th and Queensborough Community College on January 27th.

Ebron also leads the Caimans on the glass with a team-best 303 rebounds and 10.1 rebounds per game.

Justice Carrington is third in scoring with 11.4 points per game. The 2024 Region XV All-Region XV Honorable Mention winner heads to Herkimer with four straight double-figure games, including 15 points in the Region semifinals against Monroe-Bronx and 12 points in the title game against Dutchess Community College. Carrington is second in blocks with 40 and third with 165 rebounds.

Hostos Community College can get done on the other side of the court, ranking in the top ten in three statistical categories. The Caimans rank second and third in the country in steals per game (16.2) and rebounds per game (49.4), while their 6.3 blocks per game average is sixth.

Story Courtesy of Region XV SID John Kelly Jr.