NEW YORK –The Hunter College's men's basketball team put up a spirited fight on Senior Night but ultimately fell short in a hard-fought 84-77 loss to York College on Tuesday at the Hunter College Sportsplex.
The Hawks (5-20, 3-11 CUNYAC) honored their senior class before tip-off, celebrating the careers of Casey Meyers, Jack Meyers, Gene Propper, Alioune Mbengue, Enzo Caceres-Roussel, Ernie Parada Jr., and Donovon Cola. The group made their presence felt throughout the game, leading Hunter in key moments on both ends of the court.
Hunter opened the game with high energy, sparked by Mbengue's early offensive rebounds and putbacks, helping the Hawks establish a quick lead. Casey Meyers drained a pair of three-pointers to keep Hunter within striking distance in a back-and-forth first half. Jack Meyers followed with a three of his own late in the half, part of his team-leading 20-point effort on 7-of-9 shooting, including five triples.
Cola anchored the paint with a double-double, collecting 10 points and 10 rebounds, while adding an impressive five blocks to protect the rim. Mbengue was a force inside, finishing with 12 points and seven rebounds, providing second-chance opportunities that kept Hunter competitive throughout.
Trailing 41-37 at the break, Hunter came out strong in the second half behind Enzo Caceres-Roussel's steady playmaking. He dished out four assists and chipped in nine points, while Propper added defensive intensity with a key block and a steal to fuel a brief Hunter run.
With under five minutes to play, the Hawks made their final push as Parada Jr. and Cola scored inside to cut the deficit to a single possession. Jack Meyers' final three-pointer brought the crowd to its feet, but York's late free throws secured the result.
Despite the loss, the night belonged to Hunter's senior class, whose leadership and contributions were felt across the stat sheet. Casey Meyers finished with 15 points, five assists, and four rebounds, while Parada Jr. and Cola provided valuable minutes in their final home game.
