New York, NY - The men's basketball team played host to the Violets of NYU in a non-conference contest last night at the Sportsplex. Despite holding a two point lead over the undefeated visitors after the first, the Hawks came up just shy as they were unable to hold of a second half Violet surge, falling by a score of 81-76.

Brian Kruger led all scorers with a game high 23 points on 6-12 shooting from the floor which included a 5-9 performance from behind the arc. Teammates Amer Lukac and robert Borusiewicz chipped in with 15 points apiece and combined for 12 boards while Gerard Carty was an efficient 4-6 from the field for 10 points.

The Hawks shot an impressive 45 percent from the floor and posted an even better shooting percentage from downtown, connecting on 12-23 for 52.2 percent. Additionally, they sunk all but two of their 18 attempts from the charity stripe. They scored 13 points off of turnovers, but lost the battle on the boards, 47-25, resulting in 36 points in the paint and 19 second chance points.

The first half had similar shooting scenarios for both sides; Hunter went 12-28 while the visitors were 12-29. But it was the three pointer that allowed Hunter to stay ahead. The Hawks sank seven of their 12 attempts while they held NYU to just three triples. They held as much as a five point lead at one time, but a jumper by Max Ralby on a fastbreak made it a two point affair at 37-35 at the half.

The tables turned in the second as Hunter found themselves down by seven on four occasions with the latest coming at the 6:41 mark. However, they hung around and pulled within one with just over three minutes left to play. At the 1:30 mark, Kruger sank a big three to make it a three point game. Evan Kupferberg and Matt Franks exchanged baskets to keep it to within three, but two NYU free throws put the nail in the coffin as the Hawks were unable to sink a shot of their own. 

The squad is back in action on Wednesday, January 13 when they host Brooklyn College at the Sportsplex at 7pm.