BMCC Student Elijah Bryant
The 2014-15 Borough of Manhattan Community College men’s basketball season kicked off just over a month ago and already, the BMCC Panthers are tied with Community College of Philadelphia for the number seven spot on the NJCAA Division III Top Ten National Poll.
The Panthers have posted a 10-1 record so far this season.
BMCC head coach Nolan Adams told the CUNY Athletics website that the early success had been the result of the team’s positive attitude.
“Each of our guys is there for each other and focused on the team,” Adams said on the CUNYAthletics website.
BMCC is averaging 78.1 points per game and has allowed opponents to score an average 63.1 points. As of December 3, the team ranked first in the nation in opponents’ field goal percentage and was also ranked top ten nationally in rebounding.
Freshman guard and leading scorer Elijah Bryant of Staten Island has been leading the Panthers’ charge, averaging 16.7 points per game. In fact, Bryant scored 34 points while playing his first collegiate game. Those points helped catapult the Panthers to a 97-79 season opener win over Bergen Community College.
BMCC Sports Information Director Andrew Capitelli said BMCC coaches, staff and players all expected to be pretty competitive this season but no one expected the team to be nationally ranked at this early stage.
Like Coach Adams, Capitelli said team spirit played a big role in the Panther’s success.
“We don’t have individual sports, it’s all teamwork. Working as a team is everything. You have to play as a team, you have to be a group to win anything,” said Capitelli.
There are six intercollegiate teams that are part of the BMCC Athletic Program, Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Men’s Baseball and Women’s Volleyball. The school also has a swimming division, although the pool is currently under construction. The department also offers intramural as well as recreational sports activities. Athletics is located in Room N255.
Students who are interested in trying out for a spot on a team should check at BMCC’s Athletic Department’s website for information. Coaches are also responsible for recruiting team members for the school’s intercollegiate teams.
The Panther’s next home game is January 8, a double header with the women’s team playing first at 5:30 p.m. and the men at 7:30 p.m. against La Guardia Community College. BMCC is also set to host the CUNY Conference Championship this year. Semifinals start February 18 and finals happen on February 20.
Tickets to all games are free for BMCC students.