Lehman Wins First Basketball Title in 20 Years

Twenty years is a long time to wait for glory, but Lehman College made sure their championship return was unforgettable.

The Lightning crushed CCNY 101-56 Thursday night to capture the CUNY Athletic Conference men's basketball championship at Hunter College Sportsplex in New York. The victory ended a title drought stretching back to 2004 and punched their ticket to the NCAA Division III tournament.

Ricardo Dixon put on a show for the ages, scoring 25 points on nearly flawless shooting while grabbing 14 rebounds. The performance earned him Championship MVP honors and helped extend Lehman's winning streak to an impressive 15 games.

The Lightning didn't just win. They made history with the largest margin of victory ever recorded in a CUNYAC championship game, shattering the previous record by double digits.

Lehman jumped ahead early and never looked back. After leading by just four points midway through the first half, they unleashed a 30-6 run that broke the game wide open. By halftime, the Lightning held a comfortable 51-30 advantage.

CCNY, playing as the sixth seed in their first title game since 2017, briefly cut the deficit to 16 points early in the second half. But Lehman responded with another crushing 17-3 run that sealed the victory.

The win showcased the depth of Lehman's talent. Kofi Mends added 23 points with five three-pointers, while CUNYAC Player of the Year Amar Ndiaye posted a remarkable double-double with 19 points and 19 rebounds. Kesean Tracey orchestrated the offense beautifully, dishing out 11 assists as the team racked up 26 total assists.

The Lightning's dominance showed in every statistical category. They outrebounded CCNY 60-34 and held the Beavers to just 28.4 percent shooting from the field. Their interior presence proved unstoppable, scoring 42 points in the paint.

The Ripple Effect

This championship represents more than just one team's success. Lehman's victory highlights the competitive spirit thriving in Division III athletics, where student athletes balance academics and sports without athletic scholarships. The Lightning's 21-6 record shows what dedication and teamwork can accomplish when a program commits to excellence over the long haul.

For CCNY, reaching the championship game as a sixth seed marked their own achievement worth celebrating. Their journey proved that anything is possible in tournament play.

After 20 years of near misses and rebuilding, Lehman College basketball is back on top and heading to the national stage.