Men's Basketball Battles To Earn Season-Opening Win Over Goldey-Beacom

Bridgeport, Conn.-The University of Bridgeport men's basketball team never led in regulation, but the host Purple Knights outscored the visiting Lightning of Goldey-Beacom College, 18-12, in overtime to post a 92-86 season-opening victory on Friday night in the 2019 UB Men's Basketball Classic in Hubbell Gym.

The Purple Knights tied the game at 74-74, the sixth deadlock of the night, with 20.8 seconds left in regulation when senior Bakary Camara (Harlem, N.Y.) made two free throws, and then the Lightning's Juan Ligonde missed two free throws with five second to play in the second half.

Senior John Middleton (Atlantic City, N.J.) led five Purple Knights' in double-digit scoring with 21 points, hitting 7-of-14 field goals including four three-point shots.

Middleton was joined in double figures by Hashem Abbas (Jr., Nablus, Palestine) with 15 points, junior Travis Robinson-Morgan (Elmont, N.Y.) with 14 points, and Camara plus classmate D'Vonne Trumbo (Pilesgrove, N.J.) chipped in 13 points apiece for the winners.  Camara finished with a double-double on the night, as he also grabbed 11 rebounds.

Rebounding was a big factor in the victory for Bridgeport, as the Purple Knights won the battle of the boards, 55-48, including grabbing a total of 21 offensive rebounds that led to 23 second chance points.

Newcomer, junior Juan Coffi (Barcelona, Spain) led UB on the glass grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds, seven of which came on the offensive end.  

Up next, the Bridgeport men's basketball team will close out the season's opening weekend in the 2019 UB Men's Basketball Classic on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. against in-state rival Post University.