NEW YORK – In a contest that featured eight ties and 11 lead changes, the City College of New York men's basketball team (3-21, 2-10 CUNY Athletic Conference) dropped a 74-66 decision to York (8-16, 4-9 CUNYAC) at Nat Holman Gymnasium on Wednesday night.  With the loss, CCNY was eliminated from contention for the CUNYAC Tournament.

It was a tight game throughout, as neither team had a lead of more than nine points all night.  CCNY quickly opened up a 7-2 advantage, and the Beavers extended that cushion to 11-4 on a Yassine Sakhi (New York, NY) layup less than five minutes in.  After a pair of Romello Rashad (New York, NY) free throws gave CCNY a 15-6 edge with 13:37 left in the first half, York countered with an 11-2 run to tie the score at 17-17. 

CCNY held a 29-27 advantage when the Cardinals' Jaye Bookhart sank a trey with one minute remaining until halftime.  Foul shots by Isaiah Denard (Staten Island, NY) and Sakhi put the Beavers back in front, 31-30, but Wesley Chery's offensive rebound and buzzer-beating layup gave York the halftime lead, 32-31.

The sides traded buckets (and the lead) several times throughout the first 10 minutes of the second half.  York opened up a five-point advantage at 46-41, but the Beavers responded with seven straight points to go back in front.  After Donald Hartley Jr. drained a three-pointer for the Cardinals, CCNY regained the lead on a pair of Rashad free throws and a Sakhi trey.

A Torrel Trim (Springfield Gardens, NY) made it 58-56 in favor of the Beavers with 5:47 remaining before the Cardinals tied the game on Devine Chisolm's jumper on the other end.  Hartley then hit a free throw to put York in front for good.  The Cardinals built an eight-point cushion, 66-60, before Sakhi drained a pair of treys (with a York basket in between) to make it a two-point game, 68-66, with 1:31 left.  However, York went 4-for-4 at the free throw line over the final minute to close out the 74-66 victory and a season sweep of the Beavers.

Sakhi paced the Beavers with 27 points, and he also pulled down seven rebounds.  Denard finished with 16 points and five boards, while Daniel Piszczatowski (Middle Village, NY) contributed 14 points.  Rashad grabbed eight rebounds to go along with eight assists and five steals.  CCNY shot a combined 43.6 percent (24-of-55) from the field, including 25 percent (5-of-20) from three-point range, and 68.4 percent (13-of-19) at the free throw line.

For York, Hartley led the way with 24 points.  He added six rebounds and five steals.  Bookhart tallied 16 points, and Mambe Koureissi had 14 points to go along with eight boards and three blocks.  Guillermo Hernandez secured 12 rebounds, while Chisholm posted nine points and six assists.  As a team, the Cardinals shot 45 percent (27-of-60) from the floor, 44.4 percent (8-of-18) from downtown, and 66.7 percent (12-of-18) at the charity stripe.

On Saturday night, the Beavers conclude their home schedule with a 7 p.m. matchup against Hunter (9-14, 7-5 CUNYAC).  Seniors Denard and Rashad will be recognized prior to their final home game.  CCNY will also honor the 40^th anniversary of its 1979-80 squad that won the CUNYAC championship with a special halftime ceremony.