Cobleskill, N.Y.: The SUNY Cobleskill men's basketball team closed out their regular season on Saturday afternoon by grinding out a hard fought 73-65 home victory over the visiting Lions of Eastern Nazarene College (ENC) in North Atlantic Conference (NAC) action. With the win the Fighting Tigers improve to 15-10 overall including a 10-4 mark in NAC action while the Lions close out the campaign at 7-18 overall with a 4-10 record versus league opponents.
With the Fighting Tigers holding a 63-61 lead with 1:41 remaining in regulation, senior center
Markel Jenkins, Elmira, N.Y., Elmira High School/Corning Community College, came up with the defensive play of the game stealing an entry pass on the wing then while falling out of bounds finding his former high school and junior college teammate senior swingman
Devin Dennard, Elmira, N.Y., Elmira High School/Corning Community College, who was running free towards the Lions basket for a dunk that made it 65-61 with 1:37 remaining.
Then after ENC missed a three-point attempt with 1:23 left to play Jenkins found Dennard for a backdoor lay-up that made it 67-61 with 1:02 left in the contest.
Down the stretch the Cobleskill guard tandem of senior
Andre Starks, Rochester, N.Y., Fairport High School/Corning Community College, and senior
Iziah Pigott, Brooklyn, N.Y., Adams Street Academy/Dutchess Community College, went six-for-six from the free throw line to secure the victory.
On senior day it was the Fighting Tiger veterans that led the way to the win as
Andre Starks posted his second double/double of the season with a game highs of 27 points and 12 rebounds to go with two assists and two rebounds with
Iziah Pigott hitting for 17 points, five rebounds and four assists and
Devin Dennard adding 10 points and three rebounds.
Markel Jenkins was also a major factor in the win with nine points, 11 rebounds, two assists and two steals on the afternoon.
Cobleskill will next await the seedings and game times for the 2024 NAC Western Division Championship Tournament which will be played in Morrisville, N.Y. on Friday February 16 and Saturday February 17.
