Cobleskill, N.Y.: The SUNY Cobleskill and Morrisville State College men's basketball teams renewed one of the oldest rivalries in New York State College basketball history to open the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) season on Wednesday evening at the Iorio Gymnasium as the Mustangs posted a 72-70 victory in the latest meeting of the series that traces its roots back to 1919. With the loss the Fighting Tigers drop to 3-3 overall on the year with a 0-1 mark in NEAC action while the Mustangs move to 2-2 overall with a 1-0 conference mark.
After falling behind 42-27 to the visitors the Fighting Tigers turned things around in the second half with hardnosed defensive play holding Morrisville to only 8-for-20 from the floor in the stanza while generating 13 turnovers.
The Orange & Black cut the lead to 69-68 with 10 seconds left in the game on a three-point field goal from senior forward
Christian Cooper, Gilboa, N.Y., Gilboa-Conesville High School then immediately fouled Mustang junior guard Trent Ward who split his two chances to make it 70-68.
Coming out of their final time-out the Fighting Tigers pushed the ball up-court and worked it to senior swingman
Joel Costello, Middleburgh, N.Y., Middleburgh High School/Tompkins-Cortland Community College, whose runner from 14 feet fell short and game the victory to Morrisville State.
Christian Cooper led Cobleskill with a season high of 19 points to go with six rebounds while Costello continued his strong early season play with 15 points, four rebounds and four assists on the evening. Senior guard
Malik Chambers, West Point, N.Y., James I. O'Neal, was also a factor in the game for the home team with 13 points and three assists with freshman forward
Antwan Claxton, Bronx, N.Y., Taft High School, coming off the bench to score 10 points, grab a team high of 7 rebounds and block three shots.
The Fighting Tigers will next be in action when they travel to Williamstown, Pa. on Saturday December 2
nd to face the Wildcats of Penn College in NEAC action with tip-off at 1:00 p.m.
