Cobleskill, NY – The SUNY Cobleskill men's basketball team led for most of the afternoon, but the University of Maine at Presque Isle closed strong to hand the Fighting Tigers a 74-69 setback in North Atlantic Conference action on Saturday in the Iorio Gymnasium.

Conor Holland (Marathon, NY) turned in a standout performance, tying his career-high with 17 points to go with six rebounds and a steal while shooting 6-of-9 from the floor and 2-of-5 from three-point range. Senior Chrischen Chung (Poughkeepsie, NY) added 13 points, four rebounds, three assists, and a steal while knocking down 2-of-4 from beyond the arc. Marquay Tanksley (Cohoes, NY) filled up the stat sheet with eight points, five rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and a steal, while Andrew Wright (Berne, NY) and Cameron Rhode (Elmira, NY) each chipped in six points.

In a game that featured nine lead changes and four ties, both teams shot nearly identical from the floor, with Cobleskill finishing at 43.4 percent and UMPI at 43.5 percent. The Owls held the edge on the glass, 39-28, which helped them control the paint scoring, 34-32. Both teams forced 15 turnovers, but Cobleskill made the most of its opportunities, scoring 21 points off turnovers compared to UMPI's 13.

Cobleskill came out sharp, jumping out to a 6-2 lead early after a Wright layup off a Tanksley assist. UMPI responded to tie the game at 9-9, but Holland answered with a triple to swing momentum back to the Tigers. Cobleskill continued to build its advantage, taking a 19-13 lead midway through the half after a pair of free throws from Bruce Wilder Jr. (Rochester, NY).

After UMPI trimmed the deficit to 21-20, Cobleskill responded with its best stretch of the half, ripping off an 11-0 run fueled by four points from MJ Ford and a strong finish inside from Wright. The Tigers kept their foot on the gas, pushing the lead to 36-22 late in the half after a step-back jumper from Rowan Morel, before Holland buried a deep pull-up three to close the half and send Cobleskill into the break with a 39-24 lead.

The Tigers kept control early in the second half, with Holland scoring inside to maintain a 42-32 cushion. A Zander Poissant (East Greenbush, NY) layup off a Rowan Morel (Manhattan, NY) assist later kept Cobleskill in front 50-40 with 13 minutes remaining.

UMPI then made its move, using an 11-2 run to climb back within one at 52-51 before taking its first lead of the half at 56-54 with eight minutes to play. From there, the game turned into a back-and-forth battle with both teams trading buckets and defensive stops.

Cobleskill briefly regained momentum and took a 64-61 lead after another strong finish from Holland, but UMPI answered again, taking a 69-66 advantage with 1:33 left. Tanksley kept the Tigers within striking distance, converting an and-one to cut it to 72-69 with just over a minute to play, but the Owls sealed the game at the free throw line down the stretch to secure the 74-69 win.

Up Next:
The Fighting Tigers return to the court next Friday, February 13, as they travel to Thomas College for a 5:30 p.m. NAC matchup.