NEW YORK, NY – City College of New York's Chris Stone iced the game with a pair of free throws in the final seconds, as the Beavers defeated the visiting Houghton Highlanders on Friday afternoon, 86-82.
 
As would become a trend throughout the game, the Beavers built a 12-point lead with just over three minutes to play in the first half.  The Highlanders, however, would rally for a 14-2 run, capped by a layup by Trey Flatt in the closing seconds, to tie the game, 44-44, at the break.
 
After trading buckets in the early minutes of the second half, the Beavers would eventually build a double-digit advantage, only to see the Highlanders pull back into contention.  With just over 2:30 remaining in the game, Flatt completed a three-point play to cut the Beavers lead to a single point, 74-73. 
 
Again CCNY surged out to seven-point lead with only 33 seconds to play.  But a three-pointer from Preston Thomas, and a layup by Jajuan Preaster put Houghton back within field goal with six seconds left on the clock.
 
Forced to foul, the Highlanders sent Stone to the line, who promptly sank any dreams of a dramatic Houghton comeback, and giving the Beavers their seventh win of the season.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 82 | CCNY – 86
Records: Houghton: 3-9 | CCNY: 7-4  
Venue: Nat Holman Gymnasium, City College of New York | Attendance: 204

NOTABLE STATS
>> Aaron Johnson posted a career-best 29 points, shooting 13-of-25 from the floor, while adding nine rebounds and three steals.
 
>> Preaster finished with 22 points, nine boards and three assists, while Flatt collected 13 points, three assists and three steals.
 
>> Stone, who played all 40 minutes for the Beavers, led CCNY with 22 and 11 rebounds, while Ricardo Dixon also collected a double-double with 18 points and 16 boards.
 
COACH'S CORNER
"CCNY is a perfect team to wrap up our non-conference schedule against. They have some of everything--size, athleticism, drivers, and shooters.

"Their physicality bothered us early, but we responded with that great run to end the half and another run near the end. Our easy looks didn't fall at the rim, on the arc, or at the line, but we need to be pleased that we found those. Big growth for us there in the first half of the season.
 
"Aaron Johnson is coming alive after that injury a few weeks back. He's our best crasher, and [he's] an athletic finisher at the rim. When he and JaJuan Preaster are getting consistent touches in the lane, we score. I thought JaJuan and others did a great job of finding Aaron today."

UP NEXT
The Highlanders return to the Nielsen Center on Saturday, January 6, when they will resume conference play against the visiting Hartwick Hawks at 4:00 p.m.