New York, NY-  The men's basketball team picked up their first win last night after defeating Medgar Evers by a score of 95-70 in the first conference game of the season. The Hawks exploded for 52 points in the first half, the most points they have scored in any half this season.
 
Gio Gabbidon and George Keener led the Hawks offensively scoring 27 and 25 respectively. Luka Jakic recorded a team high 10 rebounds and added 3 blocks on the defensive end. The Purple and Gold shot a sizzling 54.7% from the field including 9-17 from downtown. The Hawks capitalized on Medgar's 19 turnovers and turned them into 30 points. They dominated the game inside, out rebounding the opponents and scoring 50 points in the paint.
 
The game started as an up and down back court affair. The two teams traded buckets as Medgar Evers held a 13-11 lead at the 14:39 mark in the first half. Jonah Bevacqua's layup sparked a 10-1 run to give Hunter a 21-14 lead which they would never surrender the rest of the game. The Hawks would lead by as many as 17 in the half but a Medgar run at the end of the half put the score at 52-42 at the break.
 
The Hawks jumped out strong at the start of the second half scoring the first 11 points of the half to extend the lead to 21. The Hawks largest lead came at the 2:28 mark as Barrett Lowe's layup made the score 95-63. With the win, Hunter starts conference play undefeated for the first time since 2017.
 
The Hawks will be back in action for Homecoming this Friday December 6^th at 8pm against Baruch College. Athletics is hosting a pep-rally at 4pm in the west lobby as women's basketball and wrestling each kick off th action at 5pm.