BC Men’s Basketball Team Drops Home Opener 77-68

By Jose Rohdin and Jonathan Pariente

Brooklyn College Men’s Basketball team was defeated 77-68 on Tuesday night in their 2019-2020 home opener of the season against a familiar foe of the NJAC conference, the William Paterson Pioneers.

Coming off a 15-13 record last season under now second-year head coach, Jeffrey Jean-Baptiste, the Bulldogs were looking to start their new season on a high note. In the early going, the Bulldogs didn’t disappoint. Noah Shy kicked off the Bulldogs’ first possession with an early three-pointer to get the crowd going. The Pioneers responded with a 10-0 run to go up 10-3. The Bulldogs immediately responded and took control of the action after Michael Tesoriero, Anthony McLean, and Jordan Wright hit a barrage of three-pointers to bring the team back. The Bulldogs would close out the first half on a 24 to 19 run to take a 34-29 lead. 

As the second half began, the Pioneers came out of the gate strong and were able to tie up the game at 45 apiece with 11:08 left to play. Both the Bulldogs and the Pioneers would continue counterpunching each other exchanging baskets as the Bulldogs would continue to retain a slight lead. The tide of the game would turn with 5:33 left as Sean Smith, of the Pioneers, would hit a three to give them a 56-51 lead. Sean Smith continued to stifle the Bulldogs defense as the Pioneers would build their lead to 64-53 with 3:20 to play and didn’t look back. The Bulldogs would struggle the remainder of the second half going on an eight-minute scoring drought as the Pioneers went on to win the game 77-68. 

The Bulldogs struggled on their play in the paint. For the entire game, they would be outrebounded 52 to 27, and on the offensive glass would be beaten 19 to 13. Also, they were outscored in the paint 40 to 22. Other than Noah Shy and Michael Tesoriero, no one else would drive into the paint. The Bulldogs would only take 11 foul shots, but the Pioneers took 23 for the entire game. The Bulldogs struggled to find a rhythm and struggled with efficiency in their shots as they took 70 shots and only made 24 of them compared to the Pioneers, who only took 57 shots and making 28. 

Sophomore guard Kayin Olajide, in his debut game with the Bulldogs, would lead the Bulldogs in scoring with 13 points. He would shoot 5 of 9 for the entire game knocking down some much-needed three-pointers. He would only be on the court 22 minutes, but at the end of the game, he would finish the game with the starters. 

The Bulldogs will welcome in Wittenburg University for the first time to Brooklyn on Saturday, November 16 at 3 pm at the West Quad Gymnasium.