If you were not in the Bronx at Hostos Community College on 149th and Grand Concourse on December 1st for the doubleheader against Kingsborough, you missed two close games! For those of you that were there - you know that words cannot describe both conference openers. The Lady Caimans fought back from a 14-2 deficit early in the game to defeat the Wave, 62-54, and now sit atop the conference with a 4-2 record overall and 1-0 CUNY Athletics Conference (CUNYAC) record. As for the Hostos Men's Basketball team, they fought against a winless Kingsborough who played with everything they had on the road and forced an overtime in a nail-biter. In the end, the Caimans stuck together as a unit, grabbed crucial rebounds when it mattered most, and earned their first CUNYAC win of the season, 89-84, to move to a 6-2 overall record.

Hostos Lady Caimans Basketball

Not everyone's forte is math but here's an equation that makes sense: 

Johnasia Turner made two quick baskets (one being a steal and assist from Keosha Taylor), bringing Hostos within one point with three minutes remaining in the first half - their closet margin since Kingsborough's first field goal of the game for a 2-0 lead en route to a 14-2 Kingsborough lead at the fourteen minute mark. By halftime, the game was evenly matched on paper with the Wave just ahead, 25-24.

The Lady Caimans came out of the locker room with the crowd on their side and defensive intensity. They tied the score at 35 and gained their first lead of the game, 37-35, thanks to locking down on the opposing end and playing together to finish the plays. In gritty conference play, where records do not matter, the team with more heart would come out winner. With a tight game and Hostos nearly ahead by two points with eleven minutes to play, the Lady Caimans would close the gap. A 16-5 run would give Hostos their biggest lead after a Keosha Taylor steal and block on two ensuing plays.  Johnasia Turner sealed the deal with a smooth jumpshot from the foul line at 3:12 to give the advantage to the Lady Caimans, 57-44. The Wave would never get closer than eight points for the rest of the game. The Hostos Lady Caimans pick up the win, 62-54, and surpass last year's win total in only six games this season.

Statistics Leaders:

Hostos Lady Caimans

Keosha Taylor - 22 pts (10-22 FG), 7 rebs, 5 steals, 4 asts, 1 block

Johnasia Turner - 16 pts (8-15 FG), 5 asts, 3 steals

Kristina Shcherban - 11 pts (4-10 FG), 6 rebs, 6 steals

Tamesha Briggs - 9 pts (4-9 FG), 5 rebs


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Hostos Caimans Men's Basketball

As with the Women's Basketball game, Kingsborough jumped out to an early lead, 10-2, with patience in a 2-3 zone and playing defense. Jeremiah Brown came right back at the Wave - knocking down two 3-pointers. With Khalid Yousef getting one of those two assists, he also strapped down on defense to get a stop and help the Caimans gain the lead, 12-10, for the first time in the game.

Rahlek Smith's spark off the bench provided the Caimans with even more defensive effort as his two steals ignited the crowd and made sure everyone's eyes were on the game and nothing else. Hostos broke away for a 37-30 cushion by halftime. Brandon Stolz lead the way with 11 points (5-7 FG) and 9 rebounds. Charles Jackson had 10 points and was perfect from the field (5-5 FG). Jeremiah Brown chipped in 8 points (2-3 Three-Point FG & 2-2 FT).
For Kingsborough, Terrence Hardwick paved the way with 11 points (4-6 FGs & 3-5 Three-Point FG). The difference at the half was Hostos shooting percentage - the Caimans shot 70% from the field, while the Wave only connected on 30% of their total shots.

With some fans in the stands from Brooklyn, one could hear all six people from Kingsborough cheering as the Wave came out on a shooting spree in the second half. Darrell Robinson fed Kester Chase for a nothing-but-net basket from beyond the arc for a 52-48 lead. As teams traded leads back and forth for the last five minutes, intensity picked up on both ends. Offensive rebounds by Khalid Yousef and Brian Morrison kept the score tight. KCC's Robinson hit a pull-up jumpshot to put the Wave ahead by four. On the ensuing play, Brandon Stolz took the ball from coast-to-coast and cut the deficit, 73-71, with 18.2 seconds remaining. The crowd chanted: DE-FENSE!  Stolz snagged the steal and was fouled. After the second miss, Khalid Yousef swooped in the air to put back the rebound for the 73-73 tie with 12.8 seconds on the clock. Kingsborough dribbled the ball down court for the last possession of the game and a chance to win. Darrell Robinson pulled up for the shot and missed, Eric Troche grabbed the rebound and threw the shot up. GOOD! As whistles blow, the referees called no-basket for the delayed timing of the shot!  

End Regulation: Hostos 73, Kingsborough 73. 

You could not put this type of ending in a movie even if you wanted!

As coaches and fans alike were holding onto their seats and clipboards, you could feel the competitive atmosphere in the gym as overtime started. Hostos sophomore point guard Gary Anderson, a Brooklyn native, scored the first baskets of OT on two free throws. After a stop on defense, Khalid Yousef smoothly sailed a 3-pointer into the nylon in a patient offense. Yousef ran by his bench and pounded his chest with his fist - letting his team know that it takes "heart" in these type of games. 

Kingsborough crept back. Terrence Hardwick hit three free throws, and Darrell Robinson scored a three-pointer to knot the game at 80 with 1:30 remaining in OT. Hostos freshman point guard Daquaan Adderley responded with a three-pointer of his own, near his bench, with the assist from Brandon Stolz. Thanks to the free throw shooting of Stolz and Anderson, Hostos held an 85-82 lead and never looked back. The Caimans defeated the Wave in overtime, 89-84, in what was described by many as "a great college basketball game"

Statistics Leaders:

Hostos Caimans

Brandon Stolz - 30 pts (12-21 FG & 2-5 3-Pt FG), 15 rebs, 4 asts, 3 steals

Jeremiah Brown - 13 pts (4-8 FG & 3-6 3-Pt FG), 10 rebs

Charles Jackson - 17 pts (8-10 FG & 1-1 3-Pt FG), 7 rebs

Khalid Yousef - 11 pts (5-7 FG & 1-2 3-Pt FG), 4 asts


STAT of the GAME: Hostos outrebounded Kingsborough by 20+ rebounds


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**On Saturday, December 3rd, both basketball teams travel locally in the Bronx to face CUNY Athletics Conference rival Bronx Community College in an away doubleheader at 12:00pm and 2:30pm.