Release courtesy New Rochelle Athletics Department
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - The Blue Angel men's basketball team traveled to Hyde Park, N.Y. on Sunday to face off against the Culinary Institute of America in the opening game of conference play. The Blue Angels bested the hosting Steels in a dominating 109-36 victory to end their two game losing streak.
The Angels started off strong, going on an 11-5 run in the opening five minutes from baskets from juniors Elijah Harris (Flushing, N.Y.), Glen O'Loughlin (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) and Hunter Schenkel (Sayville, N.Y.) to put them up. The Angels continued their onslaught from there as they went on a 19-4 run in the half putting them up 30-7 at the halfway point of the first off of tremendous play from sophomore Wesley Kra (Queens, N.Y.) and freshman Kadeer Cleaves (Far Rockaway, Queens). Both Kra and Cleaves had tremendous performances as Kra finished with 15 points and eight boards, shooting 7-11 in just 15 minutes. Cleaves boasted a career night filling the stat sheet with 12 points, six rebounds and four assists off the bench. The Blue Angels dominance continued as the half continued allowing the Steels six more points in the half as they pushed the pace posting a dominating 62-13 lead at the half. The 62 points scored in a half is the third most by the Blue Angels in program history as well as the 49 point lead is the most the Blue Angels have led by at the half of a game.
As the second half began, the Blue Angels did not let up, not letting the Steels score until four minutes into the quarter as they went on a 12-0 run in those few minutes off strong play from juniors Harris and O'Loughlin. The two junior starters had impressive nights in limited minutes as in just 11 minutes Harris was able to put up 11 points, six rebounds and dish out two assists, while O'Loughlin was able to put up six points and four rebound in just eight minutes.
The Angels continued to keep the pressure as the lead reached the 60's off an O'Loughlin layup and never wavered as when the 10 minute mark was reached in the game, the Angels found themselves up 90-26 as the game continued we saw a dominating performance on the glass from sophomore Elijah Robinson (New York), who posted his first double-double of the season as well as his third career double-double as he recorded 13 points and grabbed 10 boards in his time on the court.
As the game continued the Blue Angels just could not be stopped, the Blue Angels up 109-36. Other notable stat lines for the night were junior guard Nyle Salley Jr (Harlem, N.Y.) who put up nine points and seven boards as well as Wesley Kra (Queens, N.Y.) who posted a career high nine points and three boards against the Steels.
The Blue Angels will next see action on Tuesday, as they face off against Brooklyn College in a rematch of last years 86-81 victory.