BROOKLYN, N.Y. – For the second game in a row, the St. Joseph's University, New York-Brooklyn men's basketball team found themselves in overtime, and this time the Bears edged out a victory over Pratt Institute, 87-82, on Tuesday night at The Hill Center.
Justin Munson (Middle Village, N.Y.), who scored the go-ahead basket with less than a minute remaining in the extra period, led the Bears with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Returning home after the Penn State Harrisburg Tip-Off Classic, the Bears looked to avenge a close loss to their Willoughby Avenue neighbors the previous season. Munson led the Bears throughout, including in the game's final moments, and rounded out his big scoring and rebounding night by nearly collecting a triple-double. He dished out eight assists, which also led the team on the night. Fellow sophomore Jacob Idowu (Wiesbaden, Germany) recorded a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, and he added five assists to help steer the Bears' balanced offensive night. Their classmate Timothy Richardson (Ozone Park, N.Y.) was a spark off the bench for the second consecutive game. Richardson scored 15 points on 3-4 shooting from three-point range, and he added five rebounds to go toward the Bears' 56-39 advantage on the boards.
Pratt were the stronger side to start the game, however. The Cannoneers' sophomore guard Elijah Fermaint drained a pair of three pointers in the game's opening minutes and connected on a hoop plus a foul to pace Pratt and stretch their lead to nine, 17-8, by the 12-minute mark. Fermaint's 11 points during those early minutes were part of his game-high 25 points on the night. St. Joseph's-Brooklyn responded and were able to tie up the score and then retake the lead, 25-23, with six minutes remaining in the first half. Three pointers by Blaise Corozzo (Howard Beach, N.Y.) and Colin Mills (White Plains, N.Y.) helped spark the Bears' run, and foreshadowing more to come, Munson and Idowu found openings over this stretch too. Control of the game changed once more before the break, and again, it was Fermaint leading Pratt on an extended run. The Cannoneers outscored the Bears 15-6 in the final minutes of the first half and held a 38-33 lead at halftime.
Pratt held fast to their lead in the game's second half. They were up seven, 49-42, with just over 15 minutes left in the game when St. Joseph's-Brooklyn began to strike back. The Bears drew level with the Cannoneers at 53-all within four minutes of play time, and they would knot up the score four more times while they increased the pressure on their opponents. Separate trips to the free throw stripe and a big three pointer by Richardson – his third of the night – with three minutes remaining in the game swung momentum back to the Bears and gave them a five-point advantage, 69-64. Pratt rallied once more and fought all the way back, tying up the score, 71-71, on a layup by sophomore Kurt Thomas with 30 seconds remaining, which wound up being the play that forced the overtime period.
Fresh off their overtime game against Immaculata University at the weekend, the Bears were prepared to endure, and they did. Crucial baskets by Idowu and Mills down the stretch, followed by Munson's go-ahead basket plus the foul in the closing minute effectively sealed the victory in the team's home opener and for their first of the young season. Mills (11) and Cummings (12) were the other Bears in double figures on the night, and the Bears' balanced play on the night was a difference maker. The team's 22 points off the bench topped Pratt's six, and the Bears also held advantages in assists and rebounds, all coming from different contributors.
Now at 1-2 on the season after tonight's win, St. Joseph's-Brooklyn will head on the road next for an exhibition match-up with Division I Fairfield University that is set for Wednesday, November 18. Tip-off from Leo D. Mahoney Arena is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
