New York, NY – The men's basketball team is geared up and ready for the 2021-22 season after missing the previous year of competition due to COVID.
 
The Purple and Gold will open play on Saturday, November 6 when they travel to Brooklyn to take on the Cannoneers of the Pratt Institute in a non-conference contest. It's the first of a 25 game slate that features 14 CUNYAC opponents and 12 in front of the home crowd. "It has been great to be back," stated head coach John Pelin, who enters his sixth season at the helm. "Being able to practice together as a team practicing as a team again is gratifying and we are looking forward to an exciting season ahead of us"
 
After a season opening, two-game road swing, the Hawks will finally play on their home court at the Sportsplex on Friday, November 12 when they host SUNY Old Westbury at 6pm. Their first conference contest will be on Friday, December 3 when they welcome their downtown rivals, Baruch. In traditional fashion, the game will be the Homecoming nightcap with a tip-off at 8pm. Once the new year starts and the calendar gets flipped to January, the Hawks will close with their final 13 games against league rivals; squaring off against each, twice.

Hunter returns six; Luka Jakic, Jared Brown, Nolan Bruesehoff, Hayden Belkin, Ryan Lau and Barrett Lowe. The players account for just over half of the team which will bring experience to the court.

During the 19-20 campaign, the Purple and Gold compiled a 10-16 overall record with an 8-6 mark in CUNYAC play; there were only three other times since the 2007-08 season that the men's basketball program won eight conference games. Despite a rough start, they used a five game win streak and won seven of their final 10 games before heading into post-season play. As the #4 seed, they squared off against #5 Brooklyn but were upset by the Bulldogs, who would go on to win the Championship.