The Baruch College Bearcats lost a tough CUNYAC contest 79-71 to the Bloodhounds of John Jay College of Criminal Justice on Tuesday night.

John Jay led the entire first half and were up 40-29 early in the second before the Bearcats rallied to take a 46-45 lead.

Michael Richards scored six of his season-high 23 points in a 16-6 run to help the Bearcats take their only lead of 46-45 with 15:13 left.    

The host Bloodhounds quickly took back the lead and went up again 11 points (61-50) with under 10 minutes left.

The Bearcats kept battling to cut the deficit and managed to get as close as six points on four occasions in the final two minutes, but free throw shooting down the stretch helped the hosts clinch the win.  
  
The Bloodhounds received 44 points from their bench this evening to hand the visiting Bearcats their third straight loss. 

Emil Purisic narrowly missed a double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds. Jehmehl Fair had 14 and Adnan Bajrami 12.

Angel River led the opponents with 17 points.