(Valhalla, NY) - To demonstrate just how well the first half of the 2019-2020 season went for the Westchester Community College Men's Basketball Team, the Vikings held a lead before the season actually started. A pre-game technical foul was assessed to visiting Kingsborough Community College for a slam dunk observed during pre-game warm-ups. Viking freshman Malik Moore (Tuckahoe, NY/Tuckahoe HS) calmly converted the free throw to give Westchester a 1-0 lead before the opening tip-off of the season ... literally. The play proved to be a sign of things to come. Westchester built a 10-point lead less than two minutes into the game, had three different runs of 10+ points in a row during the opening 20 minutes, and held a 73-48 lead at halftime as the Vikings cruised to a 112-75 win over Kingsborough in front of a packed Viking Gymnasium to open the campaign 1-0. The win was the second game of the second annual Westchester CC Tip-Off Tournament.

The Vikings were so dominant before halftime that had Westchester not scored a single point during the second half of play until the final minute of the game, the score would have been tied. However, even while resting their starters for much of the second stanza, the Vikings held a 39-27 edge over the final 20 minutes.

With the win, Westchester is now 3-0 against Kingsborough CC since reinstating Men's Basketball for the 2017-18 season. However, the 2019 edition of this rivalry was shockingly one-sided after the Vikings won the 2018 encounter 88-77, and notched a 74-66 victory over the Wave one year earlier.

However, on Friday night, it was all Westchester as 13 different Vikings scored baskets. Freshman Daniel Barrera (Elmsford, NY/Alexander Hamilton HS) led all scorers with 24 points, while fellow rookie Noe Fleurimond (Greenburgh, NY/Woodlands HS) added 15 points on 7 for 8 shooting. Sophomore Joe Zayer (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South HS) had 14 points, and Moore added 12 points, with seven rebounds, and four assists.
The Vikings also received an inspired effort from freshman Anthony Monti (Bronx, NY/St. Raymond's), who played a brilliant 25 minutes, scoring seven points, and adding six rebounds, seven assists, and six steals.

Westchester shot 47% for the game - compared to 42% for Kingsborough - after shooting 56% during the opening 20 minutes, and owned a 58-41 advantage on the boards. The Vikings also committed only 15 turnovers, compared to 28 by KIngsborough.

Westchester returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 2 when the Vikings complete their Tip-Off Tournament with a 4:00 p.m. match-up with Hostos Community College. The Caimans opened their 2019-2020 season with a 91-77 win over Passaic County College to open the Westchester Tip-Off.