Valhalla, NY – Men's basketball ended the regular season on the high note with a gritty 78-69 win over Nassau Community College Saturday afternoon.
 
Celebrating Sophomore Day, Westchester started the first half taking an early five-point lead at the 15:23 mark. The Viking offense would then explode to a 15-point lead thanks to a three-point goal from Elijah Hernandez. SUNY Westchester would expand their lead over the Lions (13-13) to 22 points thanks to a late Hernandez layup. In total for the first-half, the Vikings were led by Elijah's 17 points off the bench followed by 11 points from Yenfry Paulino, one of four sophomores honored in a pregame ceremony. Westchester as a whole shot 53% from the floor, 43% from beyond the arc, and 88% from the free-throw line.
 
The second half became a bit dicey for the Vikings as they saw their 20 point lead dwindle down minute by minute. The Lions would by carried by Jesse Taylor who would score 14 points in the half followed by a combined 22 points by Anthony Todd, Shane Turner, and Bashir Byrd. Meanwhile, SUNY WCC would shoot a cold 30% from the floor. Luckily their first half lead would payoff. Yave Cruz would help with eight points and 11 rebounds in the half followed by Hernandez's nine points, seven of which came from the charity stripe.
 
In total, the Vikings were led by Hernandez's 26 points and four steals. Elijah was also perfect from the free-throw line going 11-11 on the afternoon. Paulino would add 13 points, seven boards and seven assists on the afternoon, followed by 10 points from both Wyatt Triestman and Yave Cruz.
 
SUNY Westchester looks to the DII NJCAA Region 15 tournament as the 4-seed taking on the 1-seeded Generals of SUNY Sullivan. That game will take place this Saturday, March 1^st, at 3pm at the Paul Gerry Fieldhouse in Loch Sheldrake, NY.