Delhi, N.Y.: The SUNY Cobleskill men's basketball team defeated the Wildcats of the SUNY Polytechnic Institute in the Western Division round of the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Championship Tournament by a 70-55 margin in a game hosted by the Broncos of top seeded SUNY Delhi on Friday evening. With the win the Fighting Tigers improve to18-8 overall on the season while the Wildcats close their year at 13-13 overall.

The Fighting Tigers used a strong defensive effort to move out to a 34-21 advantage at the end of the first half holding the Wildcats to only 7-of-26, 26.9%, from the field including only 1-of-8, 12.5%, from three-point range while forcing the visitors into eight turnovers.

The Cobleskill offense was keyed by the backcourt of junior guard Andre Starks, Rochester, N.Y., Fairport High School/Corning Community College, who tallied 11 points and a pair of assists and junior guard Iziah Pigott, Brooklyn, N.Y., Urban Assembly High School/Dutchess Community College, who scored six points and passed out two assists in the half. Center Markel Jenkins, Elmira, N.Y., Elmira High School/Corning Community College, was also a factor in the half with six points and four rebounds.

In the second half the Fighting Tiger offense went cold as the Wildcats cut the lead to 58-52 with 5:03 remaining in regulation before Cobleskill regained their composure to close the game on a 12-to-3 run down the stretch to seal the victory.

Andre Starks posted a strong all-round effort with a game high of 18 points to go with four assists, four rebounds and four steals while his backcourt running mate Iziah Pigott finish with 14 points, six rebounds and a pair of assists. Markel Jenkins also reached double figures in scoring with 10 points to go with nine rebounds on the evening.

Cobleskill also received strong contributions from senior forward Justin Feldman, Chester, N.Y., Chester High School/Orange Community College, with eight points and six rebounds and from first-year forward Chace Peterson, Troy, N.Y., Troy High School, with eight points and four rebounds in a reserve role.

The Fighting Tigers will next be in action on Saturday February 18 when they meet the host Broncos of SUNY Delhi for the NAC Western Division Championship with tip-off scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

 TIGER NOTES: The Fighting Tigers victory is their first in NAC post-season competition and their first post-season win since capturing the North Eastern Athletic Conference Championship on March 1, 2015 with a 49-46 win over Lancaster Bible College in Lancaster, Pa. With their 18^th victory the team now establishes the new mark for most wins by a Fighting Tiger men's team at the NCAA Division III level of competition.