FIGHTING TIGER MEN POST COMEBACK VICTORY OVER MVCC 72-68

Trailing by nine points to visiting Mohawk Valley Community College with 8:46 remaining to play in regulation the SUNY Cobleskill men’s basketball program turned up the defensive intensity and staged an impressive comeback to claim a 72-68 Mountain Valley Conference victory in front of a packed Iorio Gymnasium last night. The victory lifts the Fighting Tigers’ overall record to 18-4 on the year with a 9-2 mark versus conference competition. Cobleskill is currently ranked eighth in the latest NJCAA Division III National Poll.

“We played a poor first half tonight. We missed easy shots, we turned the ball over and defensively we played passively and allowed them to get every shot they wanted,” said Fighting Tiger Head Coach Kevin McCarthy. “In the second half we extended our defense and got them playing at an uncomfortable pace. We created turnovers which led to fastbreak points and we were able to cut into the lead. Down the stretch we played hard, we played together and we played smart which were the keys to the comeback. In our league you play games like this virtually every night so it is important to win on your home floor. As we start to look to the post season this is the type of win we have to have for seeding purposes.”

Freshman guard Jayson Taylor, Deer Park, NY, Ossining High School, keyed the Cobleskill offense with a 22 point effort while senior swingman Devon Moore, Brooklyn, NY, Family Academy High School, added 17 points to go with seven rebounds on the evening. The Fighting Tigers also received strong efforts from freshman forward Stanley Francois, Valley Cottage, NY, Suffern High School, with 11 points, four rebounds and three steals and freshman point guard Harley Fuller, Gloversville, NY, Broadalbin-Perth High School, with seven points, 10 assists and four rebounds.

The Fighting Tigers’ Warwick, NY connection played a key role in the contest as the tandem of freshman center/forward Vladimir Colas, Warwick, NY, Warwick High School, and freshman point guard Joe McCarthy, Warwick, NY, Warwick High School, combined for 13 second half points. Colas scored nine points and grabbed four rebounds and McCarthy chipped in four points including two free throws with 22 seconds remaining to play which gave Cobleskill a five-point lead and effectively sealed the victory.

Cobleskill returns to action on Thursday evening when they travel to Johnstown, NY to meet the Raiders of Fulton-Montgomery Community College for a Mountain Valley Conference game at 7:00 PM. The Raiders are currently 16-3 on the season and ranked fourth in the latest NJCAA Division III National Poll.