The Berkeley College men's basketball team wrapped-up its 2019-2020 regular season on a high note, defeating the Steels of Culinary Institute of America in convincing fashion by a score of 90-34 in HVIAC action on Sunday afternoon. The contest took place in Hyde Park, NY. The victory, Berkeley's ninth straight, improved the Knights to a mark of 15-8 on the year (7-0 HVIAC). Culinary dipped to 3-8 on the year, and finished its HVIAC slate at 2-5.
Leading the way for the Knights on the afternoon was Joshua Hardy, as he was phenomenal, posting game-highs of 24 points and 11 rebounds. He also tied for the game-high of six steals, while registering five assists. Tristan Polnitz drilled 10 of his 14 attempts from the floor to finish with 21 points. He also snatched six rebounds on the afternoon. Robert Soriano contributed 15 points while registering six steals, and it was Daquan Jackson nearly registering another double-double, as he scored nine points while collecting 10 boards. He also tallied four steals, two dimes, and a pair of swatted shots.
Despite the loss for the Steels, Culinary Institute was led by Christian Castanho, as he scored a team-high 13 points, connecting on three baskets from beyond-the-arc in the process. Nate Saar added seven points, three rebounds, and a pair of steals, as well.
Culinary Institute kept things respectable for the opening 14:47 of action, trailing by just 11, 27-16, with 5:13 remaining in the opening session. Berkeley would turn up the voltage from there, though, going on a monstrous 16-0 run to end the half, taking a 43-16 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
The Knights kept the pressure on in the second half, and Berkeley shot 66.7 percent in the final 20 minutes (19-28) in a game that turned out to be a complete runaway, with the Knights winning the contest by 56.
Berkeley dominated the game in every way imaginable. The Knights shot 49.3 percent from the floor (36-73), while holding the Steels to 23.3 percent shooting (10-43). The Knights held a 50-28 edge in the rebounding department, while also registering 21 assists compared to seven for the opposition. Berkeley committed 19 turnovers while forcing 39 Steels errors, and the Knights netted 62 points in the paint compared to four for Culinary Institute.
The Knights will now focus their energy on winning their sixth consecutive regional crown, as the 2019-2020 Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament starts this weekend. Berkeley, the No.1 seed in the tourney, will take on No. 4 seeded SUNY-ESF (5pm). Should the Knights win that contest, they'll return to action the following day to take on the winner of the 2-3 matchup that features the Panthers and the Sound. All games of the tournament will take place at Five Towns College in Dix Hills, NY.
