CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL TICKETS
NEW YORK - Top-seeded Lehman and No. 6 seed CCNY advanced to the title game of the 2026 CUNY Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Championship with semifinal victories Wednesday night. The Lightning reached their fourth final in five seasons with an 85-60 triumph against No. 5 seed and defending champion John Jay, while the Beavers outlasted second-seeded Brooklyn 76-72 in double overtime.
Lehman and CCNY meet in the championship final Thursday evening at the Hunter Sportsplex at 6:30 pm.
No. 1 Lehman 85, No. 5 John Jay 60 | BOX SCORE
Lehman used a hot second half to bounce John Jay 85-60 in one CUNYAC semifinal Wednesday night. The Lightning improved to 20-6 overall, winning their 14th straight game, while John Jay wrapped up its season at 10-17. Lehman led by one, 35-34, at halftime before the Lightning outscored the Bloodhounds 50-26 in the second half.
The Lightning are making their fourth title game appearance in five seasons and seeking their first CUNYAC title since 2004.
Lehman shot 56.9 percent (33-58) from the field and 44.4 percent (8-18) from three-point range, including 68.8 percent shooting in the second half. Kesean Tracey led the Lightning with 18 points and six assists, while Tyler Harts added 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting. Amar Ndiaye recorded 15 points and nine rebounds, and Ricardo Dixon contributed 12 points and eight rebounds. Lehman outrebounded John Jay 41-26 and finished with 42 points in the paint.
John Jay shot 32.7 percent (18-55) from the field and 30.8 percent (8-26) from three. Jamir Stewart led the Bloodhounds with 17 points, while Amare Jordan and Alsseny Diallo each scored nine. John Jay was limited to 16 points in the paint and four fast-break points in the setback.
No. 6 CCNY 76, No. 2 Brooklyn 72 (2OT) | BOX SCORE
CCNY, which trailed by as many as 13 points early in the second half, earned a 76-72 double-overtime victory over Brooklyn Wednesday. The Beavers improved to 8-19 overall and secured their first trip to the conference title game since 2017, while the Bulldogs finish at 11-15. CCNY outscored the Bulldogs 12-8 in the second overtime after entering tied 64-64 after one extra session and 55-55 at the end of regulation.
The Beavers, the first No. 6 seed to reach the title game since Medgar Evers in 2012, trailed 63-56 with 1:38 left in the first overtime, but a David Leye layup with four seconds left capped an 8-1 spurt and sent the game to a second extra frame. The lead traded hands four times in the second OT, with a three by Abdias Carcamo with 1:06 left putting the Beavers in front for good.
CCNY shot 34.3 percent (24-70) from the field and 30.0 percent (6-20) from three-point range, while converting 22-of-32 free throws. Carcamo led the Beavers with 24 points, nine rebounds, and four assists. Olabanjo Aborisade added 16 points and nine rebounds, and Michael Bowman contributed 15 points. Chris Popotte recorded nine points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
Brooklyn shot 35.1 percent (26-74) from the field and 36.8 percent (7-19) from beyond the arc. Joe Charles led all scorers with 34 points, hitting five three-pointers. D’aze Hunter and Thomas Hall each recorded 10 rebounds, with Hall adding eight assists. Tyler Gordon contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. Brooklyn held a 54-50 rebounding advantage and scored 22 second-chance points.
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