BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The Pratt Institute men's basketball team extended its winning streak to three games on Monday evening, defeating borough rival Brooklyn College 78-66 at the Activity Resource Center.
The victory improves Pratt to 5-2 on the season, marking the program's best start through seven games since at least the 2012-13 season. The Cannoneers have now won five of their last six contests and matched their longest winning streak from the 2023-24 campaign, which also featured a home victory over the Bulldogs.
Five Cannoneers scored in double figures, led by senior guard Mekhi Davis (Brooklyn, N.Y.) with a season-high 16 points on 8-of-13 shooting. Davis added four steals and two rebounds. Sophomore guard Thomas Graetz (Sydney, Australia) and first-year forward Kurt Thomas (Dallas, Texas) chipped in 14 points apiece, with Thomas shooting 7-of-9 from the floor.
Senior forward Cameron Hatcher (Cincinnati, Ohio) tallied 13 points, five rebounds, and three steals, while newly named Atlantic East Player of the Week junior Trey Phillips (Phoenix, Ariz.) finished with 12 points and seven boards.
First-year guard Elijah Fermaint (Orlando, Fla.) orchestrated the offense, dishing out a career-high 10 assists to go along with three steals.
Pratt dominated the interior, outscoring Brooklyn 62-22 in the paint while shooting a season-high 53.8 percent (35-of-65) from the field. The Cannoneers' defense swiped 14 steals and forced 24 turnovers, converting them into 18 points.
The Cannoneers jumped out to a 33-22 halftime lead, fueled by 60 percent shooting in the opening stanza. Pratt maintained a double-digit cushion for much of the second half, leading by as many as 17 points at 55-38 following a Kurt Thomas dunk with 10:20 remaining.
Brooklyn (2-6) mounted a late charge, utilizing a 9-0 run to trim the Pratt advantage to 68-63 with 3:05 to play. However, the Cannoneers responded immediately. Davis scored a layup on the next possession, and Graetz followed with a transition bucket to push the lead back to nine. Davis then punctuated the victory with a steal and a breakaway dunk at the 1:34 mark, extending the lead to 74-63.
Altin Kukaj led the Bulldogs with 14 points, while Tyler Gordon posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Pratt tries for four straight heading to Bronxville, N.Y. on Wednesday, Dec. 3 for a non-conference matchup against Sarah Lawrence College. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.
