Cobleskill, N.Y.: It was not a happy Valentine's Day for the SUNY Cobleskill men's basketball team on Tuesday evening as the Fighting Tigers could not hold a 17 point second half lead in a 79-76 loss to the visiting Continentals of Hamilton College at the Iorio Gymnasium. With the defeat the Fighting Tigers fall to 3-20 overall on the season while Hamilton improves to 16-8 overall on the year.

After extending their lead to 62-45 with 11:45 left in regulation on a reverse lay-up from junior center Christian Cooper, Gilboa, N.Y., Gilboa-Conesville High School; the Orange & Black wilted under full-court pressure from the Continentals, actually falling behind 76-70 with 2:13 left to play in the contest.

But now trailing, the Fighting Tigers once again rallied as Cooper once again scored in the paint with 1:09 left and after a Hamilton split a pair of free throws on the next possession; the home team cut the deficit to 77-76 with 14 seconds left to play on a short jumper in the lane by freshman forward Kahlil Wilson, New York, N.Y., The Renaissance Charter School.

On the next possession Hamilton converted on a pair of free throws with 11 seconds remaining, and the Fighting Tigers hurried the ball up the floor. However sophomore guard Kahleel Taylor's game tying three-point attempt came up short and the Continentals came up with the rebound after a scramble for the ball as time expired.

Going up against the much bigger Hamilton front line, center Christian Cooper pounded the paint for a double/double with game highs in points with 23 and rebounds with 13 while senior guard Brian Jackson, Bronx, N.Y., Global Enterprise Academy, added 21 points and four rebounds on the evening. Senior swingman Joel Costello, Middleburgh, N.Y., Middleburgh High School/Tompkins-Cortland Community College, also reached double figures on the evening with 11 points to go with seven rebounds and a pair of assists.  

Cobleskill will return to North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) action on Friday February 17^th when they host the Nittany Lions of Penn State Berks as part of a men's and women's doubleheader with the women tipping off at 5:00 p.m. followed by the men at 7:00 p.m.