In a battle of second round NCAA teams from a year ago, the Yellow Jackets were outrebounded 41-29, even though the hosts caused 11 more turnovers (22-11) from the visitors from Schenectady, NY.
After scoring the first basket of the game, City Tech (1-3) fell behind by as many as 16 points in the first half (24-8) when senior forward Brian Scordato (Horace Greeley / Mount Kisko, NY) hit two free throws, only 9:30 into the game. But the stingy Yellow Jackets stormed back and cut the lead to three points, 36-33 on a 13-2 run that culminated with a layup from backup guard Corey McFarlane (Transit Tech / Brooklyn, NY) layup with 2:14 remaining before the break. A three-pointer by junior guard Joseph Mackey (Archbishop Molloy / Flushing, NY) made the score 39-33 and then the Dutchmen went into the half up 42-35. Mackey finished with 15 points (4-5 on three point field goals) off the bench.
Senior guard Jim Rahill (Canisius / Buffalo, NY) and classmate Darcy Bonner (Loyola Academy / Chicago, IL) each chipped in with 11 points.
Cagianello started off the second half the way he finished the first, hitting a three pointer (Union was 14-26 for the game) taking the lead back up to ten points and the defending CUNYAC Champions were never able to recover. Union’s lead grew too as many as 22 (11:59 remaining) and finished up at a 17-point margin.
Junior guard Kareem Hanley (Canarsie / Brooklyn, NY) had his best outing of the young season with 20 points, ten in each half, including back-to-back three pointers in the 13-2 first half run. Senior guard Clyde Forteau (St. Raymond's / Bronx, NY) followed with 18 points, three assists, three steals and three rebounds. Freshman guard Jamaal Hall (Benjamin Banneker / Brooklyn, NY) had 13 points, but only one assist.
City Tech will kick-off the CUNYAC schedule on Wednesday night, November 30th with conference foe John Jay College () coming to Klitgord for a 7:00 pm tip-off. Just prior to game time, the Yellow Jackets’ 2004-05 CUNYAC Championship banner will be unveiled in the Gymnasium.