SUNY COBLESKILL MENS BASKETBALL POSTS 57-53 ROAD WIN OVER ELMS COLLEGE

Chicopee, Mass.: The SUNY Cobleskill men’s basketball team extended their current winning streak to three games as the Fighting Tigers took to the road on Thursday evening to grind out a 57-53 victory over the host Blazers of Elms College in non-league play. With the victory the Fighting Tigers move to 4-1 overall on the year while the Blazers fall to 1-3 overall on the season to date.  

The Fighting Tigers fell behind early trailing at the half by a 31-25 tally as the Cobleskill shooting mirrored the cold Massachusetts temperature by going only 6-for-29 from the floor, 20.7%, which along with 13 turnovers led to the deficit.  

The second half saw the Blazers extend their lead to 35-28 with 17:20 remaining when the Cobleskill defense turned the tide of the contest by holding their hosts scoreless over for nearly five minutes and capping a 9-0 run to take a 37-35 advantage with 13:44 left to play on a  lay-up by junior guard Andre Starks, Fairport, N.Y., Fairport High School/Corning Community College, in transition from junior guard Iziah Pigott, Brooklyn, N.Y., Urban Assembly High School/Dutchess Community College.  

The visitors would then outscore the home team 13-4 to take a 50-39 advantage with 5:19 left in regulation on a short jumper from senior forward Justin Feldman, Chester, N.Y., Chester High School/Orange Community College. 

Elms would subsequently go on a run to cut the Cobleskill lead to 55-53 with 1:38 left to play but that would be as close as they would come as the Fighting Tiger defense made key plays down the stretch to hold the Blazers scoreless with free throws by Andre Starks and junior center Markel Jenkins, Elmira, N.Y., Elmira High School/Corning Community College, providing the final margin of victory.  

Andre Starks was the game’s high scorer with 18 points to go with five rebounds and two assists while Markel Jenkins chipped in 11 points, nine rebounds and a blocked shot for the winners. Sophomore JaNyve Smith, Albany, N.Y., Bishop McGinn High School, was also a factor in the win with 10 points and seven rebounds as was sophomore center Jermaine Wheeler, Manhattan, N.Y., Marist High School, who came off the bench to score six points and grab four rebounds.   

The Orange & Black will next be in action on Saturday November 19 when they host the Cardinals of Plattsburgh State for a non-conference contest at the Iorio Gymnasium with tip-off at 1:30 p.m.