2002-2003 CUNYAC / Con Edison Men's Basketball Championships

Community College - Queensborough Outlasts Hostos For CUNY Title

New York, NY – Size isn't everything. Boasting only one player in the rotation over 6'1”, Queensborough Community College won the 2003 CUNY Athletic Conference / Con Edison Community College Basketball tournament championship, beating Hostos Community College 81-64 in a game played at Borough of Manhattan CC.

Despite playing the first half without their leading scorer, 6'4” Salahudin Clark, who tended to the birth of his first child earlier in the day, Hostos outrebounded an undersized QCC team, 35-14 and went into the locker room up 35-34. But midway through the second half, Queensborough went on a mini 6-0-run, extending a 48-46 lead to 54-46, and the lead was never less than five points thereafter. Sophomore Johann Yorke was selected as Tournament Most Valuable Player with a dominating inside presence for the Tigers scoring 23 points (on 8-14 field goals and 7-9 free throws) and grabbing 12 rebounds, along with four steals and four assists.

"Coach told us about the lack of rebounding during halftime,” said Yorke, a 6'1” product of Rice High School, "and we were committed to grabbing rebounds. I think this team really bought into Coach [Tom] Sinnickson's system this year, and it paid off by winning this championship.”

Freshman Dewayne Thomas (New York, NY) was outstanding again, scoring a game-high 26 points and was selected to the all-tournament team, along with Hostos' Malik Haney (New York, NY) and Clark (New York, NY). Kingsborough's Ronald Williams (Brooklyn, NY) and BMCC's Steve Jean (Brooklyn, NY) were also added.

Hostos (12-17), the fourth-seed in the tournament and first year intercollegiate program, played at a high level from the semifinals when they beat #1 seed Kingsborough, 78-74, to gain entry into the final.

"I'm very happy with the direction of the program in its first year,” said Hostos head coach Robert Holford. "It's a credit to our institution, our students and our administration that we were so successful this early.” Haney led the Caimans again with 14 points, while Clark added seven points in the second half.

"I knew that when our three top players (Yorke, Thomas and Teron Simpson) had only two fouls each at halftime, we had a shot at it,” said eighth-year head coach Tom Sinnickson upon winning his fourth CUNY title. "We were able to play more consistent basketball and Johann and Dewayne played with their hearts tonight.

Freshman Carl Emengo (Brooklyn, NY) added 18 points and five assists for QCC. With the win, the Tigers (12-11), won the school's CUNY record sixth CUNYAC / Con Edison title.

   2002-2003 CUNYAC MEN'S BASKETBALL YEAR IN REVIEW