Presque Isle, Maine: The SUNY Cobleskill men's basketball returned to North Atlantic Conference (NAC) action on Friday evening foiling a late-game comeback effort by the host Owls of the University of Maine-Presque Isle (UMPI) by a score of 74-70 in conference play. With the win the Fighting Tigers extend their current winning streak to eight games and are now 12-2 overall on the season including a 4-0 record in conference action while the Owls drop to 2-8 overall with a 0-2 conference record.

Cobleskill appeared to have the game in hand leading 68-56 with 5:58 remaining in regulation when the Owls began a comeback effort that would cut the lead to 70-68 with 28 seconds left to play.

After regaining possession, out of a timeout, the Owls ran an inbounds play under the Fighting Tiger basket which was broken up by first-year forward Chace Peterson, Troy, N.Y., Troy High School, who stole the inbounds pass and was fouled leading to the rookie hitting a pair of free throws to make the score 72-68 with 18 seconds remaining.

On the ensuing series the Owls were once again the victim of strong Cobleskill defense when junior guard Andre Starks, Rochester, N.Y., Fairport High School/Corning Community College, came up with a steal leading to a UMPI foul. Starks split a pair of free throws to make it 73-68 to secure the victory for the visitors.

Once again, the Fighting Tigers depth played key role in the win with 12 players entering the scoring column with senior forward Justin Feldman, Chester, N.Y., Chester High School/Orange Community College, hitting a team high of 18 points to go with four rebounds and two assists and sophomore swingman JaNyve Smith, Albany, N.Y., Bishop Maginn High School, tallying 14 points and five rebounds on the night.  

The Orange & Black will next be in action on Saturday January 7 when they close out their weekend conference road trip by traveling to Bangor, Maine for a NAC meeting with the Eagles of Husson University with tip-off at 3:00 p.m.