FIGHTING TIGERS TOP WORD OF LIFE 99-49 TO EXTEND WINNING STREAK

The SUNY Cobleskill men’s basketball team stepped out of conference play on Monday night to easily handle the visiting Huskies of Word of Life Bible Institute by a 99-49 margin for their fourteenth consecutive victory. With the win the Fighting Tigers move their overall season record to 15-2 on the year; good enough, to be ranked fourth overall in the most recent NJCAA Division III National Poll.

“I thought we did a good job of forcing turnovers and using them to create easy transitional baskets,” said Fighting Tiger Head Coach Kevin McCarthy. “Once again we moved the ball pretty well tonight and were unselfish offensively. Now we’ve got to refocus ourselves and spend the next few days getting ready for Herkimer on Thursday night.”

The Fighting Tiger inside players dominated the contest as freshman forward Stanley Francois, Valley Cottage, NY, Suffern High School, led the way with 21 points, six rebounds, eight steals and three assists and freshman center Jude Franck, Spring Valley, NY, Ramapo High School, chipped in 18 points to go with nine rebounds and four blocked shots. Also dominating the Huskies inside were freshman center/forward Vladimir Colas, Warwick, NY, Warwick High School, who had eight points and five rebounds and freshman center Kyle Mitchell, Hadley, NY, Hadley-Luzerne High School, who scored four points and took down six rebounds on the evening.

On the outside, the point guard tandem of freshman starter Harley Fuller, Gloversville, NY, Broadalbin-Perth High School, scored 10 points, snatched eight steals, pulled down six rebounds and handed out six assists while freshman back-up Joe McCarthy, Warwick, NY, Warwick High School, scored four points to go with 10 assists and four steals. Cobleskill also received strong efforts from: freshman guard Jayson Taylor, Deer Park, NY, Ossining High School, with 11 points, five rebounds and three assists, freshman swingman Darryl Burns Jr., Brooklyn, NY, High School of Art & Design, with 10 points and four rebounds and from freshman forward Ryan Greene, Richmondville, NY, Cobleskill-Richmondville High School, with five points and three assists. Senior swingman Devon Moore, Brooklyn, NY, Family Academy High School, was also active on the night contributing five points to go with three rebounds.

The Fighting Tigers will return to action on Thursday January 25th when they host the Generals of Herkimer Community College beginning at 7:00 PM. The two teams are tied on top of the Mountain Valley Conference standings with unbeaten league records.

TIGER NOTES: The Fighting Tiger total of 99 points was the team’s highest point total of the season. Cobleskill also snatched a season high of 27 steals in the contest. The Fighting Tigers connected on 41 of 79 shots from the field for a shooting percentage of 51.9% and connected on 13 of 18 attempts from the free throw line for a 72.2% mark. Cobleskill is scoring 76.8 points a game while allowing the opposition only 59.4 points per game.