OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. — The St. Joseph's University, New York (Brooklyn) men's basketball team was defeated 78-88 by SUNY Old Westbury on Wednesday night at the Clark Athletic Center.

The opening half featured extended stretches of back-and-forth play, with the Bears keeping the margin within single digits through the midpoint of the period. Maven Cummings (Brooklyn, N.Y.) generated early offense by attacking the lane and getting to the free-throw line, while Jacob Idowu (Wiesbaden, Germany) added interior scoring to keep SJBK within striking distance. The Panthers created late separation, using a closing run over the final five minutes to take a 45–34 lead into halftime.

The Bears pulled within eight midway through the period following a transition basket from Colin Mills (White Plains, N.Y.), but the hosts answered with timely perimeter shooting and continued success at the free-throw line to maintain separation. St. Joseph's continued to apply pressure late, outscoring the Panthers over the final ten minutes, but the early second-half margin proved difficult to overcome as Old Westbury closed out the contest at the line.

Cummings led St. Joseph's with 23 points. Idowu followed with 16 points and seven rebounds, and Mills added 13 points with three assists. Munson finished with 11 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, while Nazareth Warren (Brooklyn, N.Y.) recorded four points and six rebounds.

The Bears face St. Joseph's (Long Island) in their first game at The Hill Center on Saturday, January 10 at 1 pm.