(Valhalla, NY) - Freshman Nokio Kennedy (Yonkers, NY/Palisade Prep) scored a team-high 13 points and added six rebounds, and freshman Kai Parris (Bronx, NY/Riverdale Kingsbridge) scored 11 points, but the Westchester Community College Men's Basketball team suffered a 69-58 setback to Raritan Valley Community College on Thursday night at Viking Gymnasium. With the loss, the Vikings are now 8-6 for the 2021-2022 season.

An offensive masterpiece, it was not as both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm throughout the game. The teams combined to go 10 for 58 from three-point range, with each team converting five three-pointers, and RVCC shot 37% from the floor for the game, while Westchester shot 28%. RVCC (13-4) held a slight edge throughout the first half. For Westchester, an Edward Beqiri (Yonkers, NY/Stepinac) three-pointer with 5:23 remaining in the first half cut a RVCC lead to 25-22, but from there, the Lions scored 10 of the final 16 points of the half to take a 35-28 lead into the break.

The second half saw RVCC work feverishly to break the game open, but Westchester refused to go down easily. With 5:09 to play in the game, a pair of free throws gave the Lions a 64-44 lead, but a 12-0 Viking run made it a 64-56 game with just under a minute remaining. Kennedy forced an RVCC turnover, and attempted a three-pointer that would have made it a two-possession game, but the shot rimmed out, and RVCC was able to convert their free throws down the stretch to hold on for their 13th win of the season.

The Lions grabbed 57 rebounds, compared to 47 by Westchester, but the Vikings did win the turnover battle, 17-16.

Also for Westchester, freshman Camryn Reyes (Bronx, NY/Bull City Prep) added 10 points and five rebounds, while Beqiri had eight points and six rebounds.

Westchester CC is set to return to action on Saturday, Jan. 29 when the Vikings head to ASA College for a 7:00 p.m. start. The schedule is subject to change due to weather. All weather-related announcements will be made on the Westchester CC Athletic Department social media vehicles.