FIGHTING TIGER MEN DOWN HOLYOKE CC 57-44 FOR 10TH CONSECUTIVE WIN

Playing just down the road from Springfield, MA, the birthplace of basketball, in Holyoke MA the SUNY Cobleskill and Holyoke Community College men’s basketball programs engaged in a low scoring interregional contest reminiscent of an earlier basketball era with Fighting Tigers emerging with the victory by a 57-44 margin. The victory improves the Fighting Tigers’ season record to 11-2 on the year and pushes the team’s current winning streak to 10 games.

“We had 16 turnovers in the first half and really tried to go too fast as opposed to let things happen on their own but the good news is that we were still ahead at half 25-14,” said Fighting Tiger Head Basketball Coach Kevin McCarthy. “The things that I’m most encouraged by are that: once again defensively we are coming together and that we’re doing a good job of controlling the boards. Playing on the road is never easy and playing on the road with all freshmen is something that no coach is overly excited about. However we are finding ways to win and that is the most important thing.”

With offense limited on both sides it was the Fighting Tiger bench that turned the tide towards the visitors form New York as freshman center Jude Franck, Spring Valley, NY, Ramapo High School, led the team in scoring with 10 points and six rebounds off the pines. Cobleskill also received strong performances off the bench from freshman forward Ryan Greene, Richmondville, NY, Cobleskill-Richmondville High School, with seven points and three rebounds, freshman guard Jayson Taylor, Deer Park, NY, Ossining High School, with seven points and from freshman point guard Joe McCarthy, Warwick, NY, Warwick High School, with two points, seven assists and two rebounds.

The Cobleskill starters made their mark in the contest led by senior swingman Devon Moore, Brooklyn, NY, Family Academy High School, with eight points and eight rebounds, freshman power forward Anthony Armstead, Schenectady, NY, Schenectady High School, with eight points and freshman point guard Harley Fuller, Gloversville, NY, Broadalbin-Perth High School, who scored four points, grabbed nine rebounds, passed out eight assists and snatched two steals. Freshman forward Stanley Francois, Valley Cottage, NY, Suffern High School, scored four points and grabbed an impressive 17 rebounds on the evening for Cobleskill.

The Fighting Tigers will close out the semester on Saturday December 16th when they travel to Saranac Lake, NY to meet the Saints of North Country Community College beginning at 1:00 PM.

TIGER NOTES: The Fighting Tigers return to the ranks of the NJCAA National Poll this week holding the number nineteen position in the rankings. Stanley Francois has posted five double/doubles in points and rebounds this season and has also had seven double digit rebound games to date.