Johnson, Vt.: The SUNY Cobleskill men's basketball team closed out the 2022 portion of their schedule on Sunday afternoon by defeating the host Badgers of Northern Vermont University-Johnson 78-63 in North Atlantic Conference (NAC) action to extend their current winning streak to six games and move into first place in the NAC Western Division. The win moves the Fighting Tigers to 10-2 overall on the season including a 3-0 record in conference play while the Badgers fall to 6-8 overall with a 1-3 conference record.

Leading 34-30 at the end of the first half the Fighting Tigers opened the second on a 10-3 run giving them a 44-33 lead from which they never looked back as the Cobleskill defense grounded the high scoring Badger offense holding the home team to 21-of-64 from the field, 32.8%, from the field while forcing the home team into 21 turnovers on the afternoon.

The Cobleskill backcourt continued their strong play as junior guard Andre Starks, Fairport, N.Y., Fairport High School/Corning Community College, scored a team high 18 points to go with seven rebounds and two steals and junior guard Iziah Pigott, Brooklyn, N.Y., Urban Assembly High School/Dutchess Community College, scored 12 points and grabbed three rebounds. Junior center Markel Jenkins, Elmira, N.Y., Elmira High School/Corning Community College, was also a factor in the win posting his third double/double of the year with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

The Fighting Tiger bench received strong outings in the win from first-year swingman Jeremy Rosario, Colonie, N.Y., Colonie High School, who had 10 points, four rebounds and two steals and from sophomore swingman Shelvon Grant, Brooklyn, N.Y., Poughkeepsie High School, who scored seven points and took down four rebounds.

Cobleskill will next be in action on Tuesday January 3 when they host the Gators of Russell Sage College in non-conference play beginning at 7:00 p.m.