NEW YORK, N.Y. - The Hunter College men's basketball team broke into the win column Tuesday night with a gritty 72-67 comeback victory over Old Westbury at the Hunter Sportsplex.

Trailing by one at the break, the Hawks (1–6) used a dominant second-half effort to rally past the Panthers (1–6) and notch their first win of the season. Demetrios Kontos led the way with 21 points, knocking down five 3-pointers and grabbing nine rebounds to pace the Purple and Gold.

Hunter shot 53.6 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three as four Hawks scored in double figures. Sloan Ireland was a force in the paint, finishing with 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting, while JP Maaba added 11 points, six assists, and three steals, including a key fast-break layup in the final seconds to seal the win.

Georgios Gatsias chipped in 12 points off the bench and added three boards and two assists, while Kristian Nunez found a way to impact the game, despite a difficult shooting night. The sophomore grabbed six rebounds and five assists in addition to three blocks and a steal. 

Hunter outscored Old Westbury 41–35 in the second half, capitalizing on 18 Panther turnovers and securing 20 bench points. The Hawks held their composure down the stretch, converting key free throws and defensive stops in the final two minutes.

The Hawks return to the court on Dec. 2, as they hosting Mount Saint Vincent at 6:00 p.m. in the Sportsplex.