Morrisville, N.Y.: The SUNY Cobleskill men's basketball team claimed the first North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Western Division Championship in program history on Saturday afternoon by posting a dramatic 84-82 victory over SUNY Delhi in a game hosted by SUNY Morrisville. With the win the Fighting Tigers move to 17-10 overall on the year and will now host the league's championship game on Saturday February 24 while the loss ends the Broncos season with a 14-13 overall record.
 
The contest was a hard fought back and forth struggle with Cobleskill holding a 44-37 lead at the half as sophomore guard Kobe Long, Rochester, N.Y., McQuaid Jesuit High School, tossing in 22 points during the half.
 
The Broncos rallied in the second half to take a 77-76 lead with 1:20 second remaining to play on a lay-up by senior forward Marvin Louissant, Brooklyn, N.Y.
 
The Fighting Tigers reclaimed the lead with 52 seconds left in regulation on a long three-pointer by Kobe Long at 79-77. However, Marvin Louissant was then fouled while scoring inside tying the game at 79-79 with 39 seconds left in regulation. However, Louissant missed the free throw with sophomore swingman Jeremy Rosario, Colonie, N.Y., Colonie High School, securing the rebound and out letting to Long.  
 
With time winding down, Kobe Long once again gave Cobleskill the lead, this time for good, hitting another long three-pointer to make it 82-79 with only 15 second left to play off a steal by senior guard Iziah Pigott, Brooklyn, N.Y., Adams Street Academy/Dutchess Community College.
 
The Broncos then pushed the ball up the floor for a three-point attempt that was off the mark with Long rebounding the miss and drawing a foul. Long then pair of free throws with six seconds left to make it 84-79 to seal the victory and the championship.
 
Kobe Long turned in an effort reminiscent of his Laker namesake as the talented sophomore scored a career high 36 points going 11-for-18 from the field including 8-of-11 from three-point territory along with converting on six free throw attempts on the afternoon.
 
Cobleskill also received strong play from senior guards Andre Starks, Rochester, N.Y., Fairport High School/Corning Community College, who had 14 points, five rebounds and four assists while Iziah Pigott scored 11 points to go with five rebounds, four assists and two steals. Jeremy Rosario was also a factor in the win with 12 points, five rebounds and a blocked shot as was senior center Markel Jenkins, Elmira, N.Y., Elmira High School/Corning Community College, who had eight points to go with 11 rebounds.
 
The Fighting Tigers will now host the 2024 NAC Championship game versus the Eagles of Husson University on Saturday February 24 at 1:00 p.m. at the Iorio Gymnasium with the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.