FIGHTING TIGER MEN’S B-BALL CRUSHES NORTH COUNTRY 106-70

The SUNY Cobleskill men’s basketball team closed out the first semester by extending their current winning streak to four games posting their highest point total of the season to date easily outdistancing visiting North Country Community College in NJCAA Region III Division III action on Saturday by a 106-70 margin. With the victory the Fighting Tigers close out the 2007 portion of their schedule with an 11-2 overall record.

The Fighting Tiger bench played a major role in the victory as freshman swingman Zaire Thomas, Ossining, NY, Ossining High School, posted career highs in points with 16 and rebounds with six and freshman guard Nyquan Bellamy, Poughkeepsie, NY, Poughkeepsie, scored 16 points and passed out three assists off the pines. Also playing major roles off the bench in the victory were senior center Kyle Mitchell, Hadley, NY, Hadley-Luzerne High School, with four points and five rebounds and freshman center Kareem Corprew, Brooklyn, NY, Grand Street High School, with six points, three rebounds and two assists.

Cobleskill also received strong all-around efforts from senior forward Stanley Francois, Suffern, NY, Suffern High School, with 15 points, 10 rebounds and three steals, senior power forward Anthony Armstead, Schenectady, NY, Schenectady with 15 points and four rebounds and senior guard Darryl Burns Jr., Brooklyn, NY, High School of Art & Design, with 10 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Freshman guard Matt Williams, Mt. Kisco, NY, Fox Lane High School, also chipped in six points, six rebounds and three assists on the afternoon.

“They came out with the mind set that they were going to be very physical and force the tempo by pressing full-court and double teaming the ball all over the court,” said Fighting Tiger Head Coach Kevin McCarthy. “I think that style of game usually favors us and eventually our depth, athleticism and size wore them down which allowed us to take advantage of them. I thought that Zaire and Nyquan did an excellent job off the bench today for us and now we’ll go into the break with some momentum for the second semester.”

The Fighting Tigers will return to action in 2008 when they host the Twins of Columbia-Greene Community College in Mountain Valley Conference action on Thursday January 17th at the Iorio Gymnasium beginning at 7:00 PM.

TIGER NOTES: Fighting Tiger senior forward Stanley Francois became the 35th player in program history to reach the 500 point mark now ranking 34th on the career scoring list with 504 points. Francois is also now 16th on the team’s career rebounding list with 382 career boards.