Wrap-Up: Old Westbury's Men's Basketball Season

On February 27, 2009 Old Westbury's men's basketball team faced the unfortunate end of their involvement in the Skyline Conference Tournament. Unable to defeat third-seeded Purchase the top seeded Panthers suffered the 92-79 loss, moving them to 20-7 while Purchase earned the automatic bid with their first Skyline Conference Championship improving to 20-8. The Friday night before on February 26th the Panther's came out victorious over Maritime with a 61-46 semi-final victory. This left high hopes for a victory to land them an automatic spot in the NCAA tournament.

Despite the end of the Panther's involvement in the Skyline Conference, the Panther's as always have left a noteworthy impression upon the athletic world. Seniors Shane DeNully and Hakiem George along with junior Lester Prosper are the OW highlights to the 2009-10 All-Skyline Conference Men's Basketball Awards released Tuesday March 2nd, 20100. DeNully, George and Prosper were each named to the All-Skyline Conference Second-Team.

DeNully was named All-Skyline Second Team and led the Skyline Conference in assists with 6.08 per game. George earned his second consecutive All-Skyline Second Team selection after ranking 11th in the Skyline Conference in scoring with 13.1 points per game, ninth in steals at 1.96 per game and fifth in minutes played at 34.07 per game. Prosper was pegged All-Skyline Conference Second-Team for the first time since the 2007-08 season. He was 13th in the conference in scoring (12.6), second in rebounding (8.6) 74.5 percent from the free throw line (9th in and fourth in blocked shots (1.54), second in offensive rebounds (3.08), fifth in defensive rebounds (5.50).

On March 1, 2010 it was announced that the men's basketball team accepted and invitation to play in the ECAC Metro Tournament and would host an opening round game against the Medgar Evers Cougars who were 13-13. The Panther's won the EMAC Metro Championship in 1987 and last competed in the tournament in 2007 against Richard Stockton. Unfortunately the Panther's were defeated by Stockton 78-73.

On March 3^rd, 2010 the Panther's advanced to the semi finals of the ECAC Metro Tournament after defeating Medgar Evers, 74-71; landing their 21^st victory of the season and setting a new single-season record for head coach Bernard Tomlin. This victory advanced the Panther's to the semi-final game against the Baruch Bearcats that following Saturday March 6^th, 2010, where the Panther's led the score board over the fifth seeded Bearcats at 44-43 but ultimately took the loss at 88-81. Baruch advanced to the Championship game against the third seeded York Cardinals. The OW men's Basketball team ends its season 21-8.