FIGHTING TIGER MEN OPEN SEASON WITH 68-34 WIN OVER CLINTON CC

SUNY Cobleskill Head Coach Kevin McCarthy brought the 2007-08 version of his Fighting Tigers to his alma mater Clinton Community College in Plattsburgh, NY to open the season on Saturday afternoon on the Cougars’ home court. Given the one sidedness of the Fighting Tigers 68-34 opening victory, it is unlikely the Fighting Tiger mentor will win the alumnus-of –the-year Clinton this year. Cobleskill opens the year 1-0 and is currently ranked twelfth in the latest NJCAA Division III National Poll. 

The Fighting Tigers jumped out to a 35-20 halftime advantage using their trademark aggressive defense to hold the Cougars’ offense to a paltry 14 points during the second half. For the game Cobleskill limited Clinton to only 12 field goals on 47 attempts for a field goal percentage of 25.5% including no made shots from three-point range, forced 26 Cougar turnovers and blocked 12 shots.

“It starts for us on the defensive end of the floor, it always has and it always will,” said Fighting Tiger Head Coach Kevin McCarthy. “We did a very good job of disrupting their offensive flow, contesting their shots and protecting our backboard. This kind of defensive effort allows us to get out in transition and play at a tempo that we enjoy. Today was a good way to start a season but there are many things we have to improve upon to be a legitimate play-off contender this year.”

Senior power forward Anthony Armstead, Schenectady, NY, Schenectady High School, led the Cobleskill attack with 15 points, eight rebounds and five blocked shots on the day while senior point guard Harley Fuller, Gloversville, NY, Broadalbin-Perth High School, chipped in 12 points and seven assists. Freshman guard Nyquan Bellamy, Poughkeepsie, NY, Poughkeepsie High School, was impressive in his debut with 12 points as was freshman guard Matt Williams, Mt. Kisco, NY, Fox Lane High School, who scored 10 points and passed out three assists.

The Fighting Tigers will next open the home portion of their schedule on Tuesday November 6th when they host the Lakers of Finger Lakes Community College as part of a basketball doubleheader with the Fighting Tiger women. The Cobleskill women will take the floor versus the Lakers at 5:00 PM with the men’s game to follow at 7:00 PM. Admission to all Cobleskill regular season home games is free to the public.  

TIGER NOTES: The Fighting Tigers had 10 players score in the contest and employed 17 in the game. Clinton was a NJCAA Region III Division III Semifinalist during the 2006-07 but still lost both of their games versus Cobleskill during the regular season. The Fighting Tigers grabbed 43 rebounds versus the Cougars on Saturday. This season’s Fighting Tiger roster features seven players that are over 6’4”in height including nine seniors.