News Release

NEW YORK — Senior swingman Michael DeCorso became the 24th player in New York University men’s basketball history to score 1,000 points as the Violets, ranked #24 in the d3hoops.com Top 25 Poll, rolled to a 94-59 victory over intra-city rival Hunter College in non-conference men’s basketball action Monday evening at the Jerome S. Coles Sports Center in Manhattan.

DeCorso entered the game needing 18 points to reach the millennium mark in scoring, and did so by hitting a free throw with 11:03 remaining. The senior tallied a game-high 19, giving him 1,001 points in his career, as the Violets (12-2) posted a season best in scoring.

A native of Freehold, New Jersey, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound DeCorso scored 1,154 points at Colts Neck High School to become the first 1,000-point scorer in his high school’s history.

“I’d like to say I wasn’t thinking about it, but it was in the back of the mind,” DeCorso said. “Now that I got it, it’s kind of a monkey off my back.”

“Obviously Michael’s just done a great job for us,” NYU head coach Joe Nesci said. “I’m just proud of what he’s accomplished as a player and a person over the past four years. He’s grown into a fine young man and a great leader for our team, and a great player.”

NYU was never threatened by the Hawks (8-8), scoring 16 of the game’s first 21 points thanks to the sharpshooting of senior guard Matt Basford (10 points) and a couple of crowd-pleasing dunks by senior center Jason Boone (15 points, eight rebounds, five assists). Both senior scored six points during the opening burst, as the Violets held a double-digit lead almost the entire way and took a 38-20 lead into the locker room.

Meanwhile, junior Charlie Parker received his first start of the season at point guard and did a strong job of keeping the offense flowing. Parker flirted with a double-double before finishing with nine points (3-3 FG) and a career-high tying 10 assists.

All told, the Violets had assists on 23 of their 32 field goals while shooting 56.1% (32-57), while owning a 47-23 edge on the glass.

Hunter, which was led by 12 points apiece from Chris Bernard and Chris Garrick, shot just 32.8% (19-58).

“They’re a talented offensive team,” Nesci said. “I thought our defensive execution was excellent tonight.”

NYU returns to action Friday, January 19, when it hosts University Athletic Association opponent Emory University at 8 pm. The contest will be preceded by the Violets’ women’s game against Emory at 6 pm. The doubleheader is a “Tear It Up” event.