SUNY COBLESKILL MENS BASKETBALL COMES BACK IN OVERTIME TO DEFEAT HUNTER COLLEGE 120-118

New York, N.Y.: The SUNY Cobleskill men’s basketball team came back from a nine-point deficit in overtime on Tuesday evening to post a 120-118 victory over the host Hawks of Hunter College in non-conference action. With the win Cobleskill is now 5-2 overall on the year to date while the Hawks fall to 1-4 overall on the season. 

Playing one of the top scoring offensive teams in the country the Fighting Tigers battled the high-flying up-tempo Hawk offense throughout the evening playing the home team to a 103-103 tie at the end of regulation. 

In the their second straight overtime contest, and third one this season, Cobleskill found themselves trailing Hunter 116-107 with 3:20 left when the Fighting Tigers finally stiffened defensively and outscoring their hosts 12-0 to take a 117-116 lead with 42 seconds left to play on a short jump shot by junior center Markel Jenkins, Elmira, N.Y., Elmira High School/Corning Community College, on an assist from junior guard Iziah Pigott, Brooklyn, N.Y., Urban Assembly High School/Dutchess Community College.  

After the Hawks regained the lead at 118-117, sophomore guard JaNyve Smith, Albany, N.Y., Bishop Maginn High School, tied the game by hitting a free throw with 22 seconds left. But missed his second free throw attempt giving the Hunters the ball speeding towards the Cobleskill basket at full speed when first-year swingman Jeremy Rosario, Colonie, N.Y., Colonie High School, stripped the ball from the home team and passed ahead to Smith who canned a jumper with three seconds remaining to give Cobleskill the lead at 120-118.  

Off the basket, the Hawks fired a long pass down court to senior guard Cormac Reilly, Trinity Pawling High School, who let fly a potential game winning three-pointer. However, Fighting Tiger senior forward Justin Feldman, Chester, N.Y., Chester High School/Orange Community College, was in position to block the shot at the buzzer to preserve the visitor’s comeback victory. 

Many Fighting Tigers contributed to the victory as JaNyve Smith led the team in scoring with 26 points to go with seven rebounds and four assists while junior guard Andre Starks, Rochester, N.Y., Fairport High School/Corning Community College, hit for 24 points and Iziah Pigott registered 16 points to go with nine assists, seven rebounds and five steals on the evening.  

Markel Jenkins posted his first double/double of the year with 13 points and 14 rebounds to go with four steals with Jeremy Rosario adding 16 points and two steals in a reserve role. First-year point guard Quanire Green, Albany, N.Y., Bishop Maginn High School, was also a factor in the win with 13 points, five assists, five rebounds and three steals in his first career start.    

Cobleskill will return to action on Wednesday November 30 when they travel to Newburgh, N.Y. for a non-league meeting with the Blue Knights of Mount Saint Mary’s College with tip-off scheduled for 7:00 p.m.