Cobleskill, N.Y.: The SUNY Cobleskill men's basketball team closed out the 2018 portion of their schedule on Saturday afternoon by dropping a hard fought 61-57 decision to the visiting Saxons of Alfred University in non-league action at the Fighting Tigers' Iorio Gymnasium. With the loss the Fighting Tigers close the semester with a 6-4 overall record while the Saxons are now 7-1 heading into 2019.

After trailing at half 28-24 the Fighting Tigers found themselves down by 12 points with at 60-48 with 46 seconds remaining in regulation after an extremely physical second half. Cobleskill cut the deficit to 60-51 when senior forward Anthony McNeil, Gresham, S.C., Union-Endicott High School/SUNY Broome, nailed a three-pointer with 39 seconds left to play.

The Fighting Tigers then forced a Saxon turnover with 29 seconds remaining and then cut the deficit to 60-55 when senior swingman Dashown Nelson, High School of Telecommunication Arts & Technology/SUNY Broome, converted a four-point play after hitting a three-pointer and converting from the foul line. Cobleskill then stole the inbounds pass and after sophomore point guard Scott Glasheen's three-pointer was long; Dashown Nelson out battled a pair of Saxon players for the rebound and found sophomore Ian Jordan, Rochester, N.Y., Rochester School of the Arts, for a driving lay-up to make it 60-57 with only seven seconds remaining.

However that was a close as the Cobleskill comeback could come as Alfred junior guard Sam Dagon, Hornell, N.Y., Hornell High School, split a pair of free throws with four seconds left to secure the win for the visitors.

Dashown Nelson had 13 points to go with six rebounds and two assists for the Orange & Black while Anthony McNeil had 13 points to go with four rebounds and two steals. Cobleskill also received strong play from Glasheen with eight points six rebounds and four assists and from Jordan with six points, six rebounds and seven assists on the afternoon. Junior guard Marques Vaval Paris, Middletown, N.Y., Mount Anthony Union High School/Rockland Community College, was also a factor off the bench for the home team with nine points and an assist.   

The Fighting Tigers will resume play on Monday January 7^th when they travel to Clarks Summit, Pa. for a meeting with the Defenders of Clarks Summit University with tip-off slated for 5:00 p.m.