BOX SCORE New York, N.Y.- The Hunter College men's basketball team fell on the road to CCNY in a conference matchup on Wednesday night, 100-57.
The game began with Hunter (3-13, 1-4. CUNYAC) keeping pace early, as Jack Meyers knocked down a three-pointer to give the Hawks a brief lead just over two minutes into the contest. Donovon Cola added another triple moments later to bring Hunter within one point at 6-7. Despite the strong start, CCNY (7-4, 3-2 CUNYAC) quickly built momentum, going on a 13-4 run.
Midway through the first half, Enzo Caceres-Roussel connected on a jumper, while Sal Saputo contributed a pair of free throws to keep the Hawks within striking distance. However, CCNY's offense surged late in the half, building a double-digit lead with a flurry of three-pointers. By halftime, the Hawks trailed 52-30 despite strong efforts from Meyers, who led Hunter with nine points, and Cola, who chipped in six.
Hunter came out fighting in the second half, with Jayden Jarret converting a layup and Saputo draining a three-pointer to add to the Hawks' scoring efforts. Ernie Parada Jr. provided a spark off the bench, going a perfect 6-for-6 from the field and finishing with a team-high 13 points, including several late layups that gave Hunter a boost.
The Hawks' defense showed flashes of tenacity, with Casey Meyers and Alioune Mbengue forcing turnovers and grabbing key rebounds. Saputo continued to shine, adding six of his 12 points at the free-throw line. Despite their efforts, Hunter struggled to find consistency on offense, shooting 34.4% from the field and 23.8% from beyond the arc for the game.
CCNY capitalized on Hunter's turnovers and dominated on the boards, pulling away in the second half to secure the victory. The Hawks (3-13, 1-4 CUNYAC) will look to regroup as they continue conference play.
Parada Jr. led Hunter with 13 points, while Saputo added 12 points and three rebounds. Jack Meyers finished with nine points, and Cola added eight points and four rebounds. Caceres-Roussel also contributed four points and two assists in the effort.
Hunter returns to action next week as they host another key conference matchup on Jan. 22 against Lehman at 7:00 p.m. in the Sportsplex.
