Marcy, N.Y.: With the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) play-offs fast approaching the SUNY Cobleskill men's basketball team lost a hard fought 75-71 conference road decision to  the Wildcats of the SUNY Polytechnic Institute in league action on Saturday afternoon. With the loss the Fighting Tigers are now 13-7 overall including a 7-4 league record while the Wildcats are currently 11-9 overall with a 8-3 NEAC record.

After a rollercoaster first half which saw both teams hold the lead the Fighting Tigers closed the stanza with a 38-35 advantage as senior guard Daniel Owens, Albany, N.Y., Christian Brother Academy/Herkimer Community College, banked home a 25-footer at the buzzer to give Cobleskill the lead.

However in the second half the Fighting Tiger offense suffered several cold spots that gave the Wildcats opportunities to seize the lead as Cobleskill went only 12-of-39, 30.8%, in the half but used intense defensive pressure to maintain striking distance forcing the home team into 24 Wildcat turnovers in the contest.

Senior swingman Antwan Claxton, Bronx, N.Y., Taft High School, led the Fighting Tiger attack posting a double/double with 25 points and 12 rebounds on the day while senior guard Daniel Owens chipped in 12 points, six steals, two rebounds, and two assists on the day. Junior guard Khayri Harris, Queens, N.Y., Springfield Garden came off the bench to tally 10 points, three assists and two rebounds on the afternoon.

Cobleskill will return to action on Wednesday February 12^th when they host the Mustangs of Morrisville State in league play with tip-off set for 5:00 p.m.