BOX SCORE BRONX, NY - The Hunter men's basketball team nearly came back from a 15 point halftime deficit against Lehman College on Tuesday night but the Lightning held on for a 61-60 victory.
The loss drops the Hawks to 8-15 overall and 5-10 in CUNYAC play.
The Lightning came out on fire in the first half shooting 64% from the field, while holding the Hawks to only eight made field goals in the first half as Lehman led 39-24 at the half.
The Lightning took their largest lead of the game, 19 points, just 30 seconds into the 2nd half but over the next seven minutes, the Hawks went on an 18-2 run to cut the lead to 47-45.
Lester Anim and
Brian Kruger led the Hawks offensive outburst in the 2nd half as they each scored 11 points in the half.
Aside from the scoring the first basket of the game and leading 2-0, the Hawks took the lead on a layup from
Bryan Silvera, giving Hunter a 53-52 lead.
Eric Kippins layup with 42 second left cut the lead to 61-60. But after two Lehman turnovers and a Hunter turnover, the Hawks fouled Chaun Miller. Miller missed the front end of a 1-and-1 giving the Hawks one last chance at victory.
But with time winding down, the Lightning defense forced a Hawks turnover as time expired securing a 61-60 Lehman victory.
Anim led the Hawks with 17 points on 5-of-7 shooting, while Kruger added 16 points, including going 4-of-6 from 3-point land. Silvera added 12 points and eight rebounds for the Hawks.
The Hawks return to action on Thursday February 12 when they will host Montclair State in a makeup from a game that was snowed out in January. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30pm.
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