News Release

NEW YORK, N.Y. — Playing in front of a packed house for their 2005-06 home opener the John Jay College of Criminal Justice men's basketball team lost a heartbreaker, losing 62-61 to St. Joseph's-Patchogue on Tuesday night.

After a lackluster first half that saw the Bloodhounds trail by 11 at halftime (32-21), John Jay used an 18-7 run over the first 7:10 of the second half to tie the game at 39.

The game would go back-and-forth over the next several minutes. But John Jay, behind a 55 percent shooting performance in the second half, established a 5-point lead at 60-55 with 2:26 to go, capped by a reverse lay-up by Jamaine Purvis (Brooklyn, NY/ Boys and Girls) who had 9 points and 8 rebounds.

The Bloodhounds maintained that 5-point lead until just under a minute to play. But a put back by Joe Meglio (Dix Hills, NY/ Half Hollow Hills West) with 1:11 to play got St. Joseph's to within 3 at 60-57.

John Jay would go back up by 4 after senior Aramis Ramos (Washingtonville, NY/ Washingtonville), who recorded 10 points and 9 rebounds, made 1-of-2 free throws.

With 35 seconds left Brian Fenton (Levittown, NY/ Island Tree) drilled a 3-point shot to cut the John Jay lead to one.

After the Bloodhounds failed to capitalize on two free-throws with 0:22 remaining, St. Joseph's Jorge Martinez (Brentwood, NY/ Brentwood) knocked a shot off glass with 0:05 remaining to give the Golden Eagles the lead and win.

Victor Raspaldo (Bronx, NY/ John F. Kennedy), who had a team-high 17 points, attempted a last second three pointer that rimmed out as the Bloodhounds fell to 0-2 on the season.

John Jay will return to action on Friday Nov. 25 against Gallaudet University in the opening round of the Gallaudet University tournament. Tip-off time is scheduled for 6 p.m.