FIGHTING TIGER MEN’S BASKETBALL FALLS IN NJCAA REGION III QUARTERFINALS TO MOHAWK VALLEY 64-61 IN OVERTIME

The SUNY Cobleskill men’s basketball team dropped a 64-61 overtime decision to Mohawk Valley Community College in the quarterfinal round of the 2007 NJCAA Region III Division III Championship Tournament on Friday hosted by Herkimer Community College in Herkimer, NY. With the defeat the Fighting Tigers close out the 2006-07 season with a 21-8 overall record.

Trailing 39-23 at the half Cobleskill staged a furious second half rally and tied the contest with 26 seconds remaining in regulation when freshman point guard Harley Fuller, Gloversville, NY, Broadalbin-Perth High School, scored on an inbounds play to even the score at 58-58. The Fighting Tigers took an early lead in overtime but trailed the Hawks 64-61 with 2.7 seconds remaining with the ball once again underneath the basket. Off the in-bounds pass freshman guard Jayson Taylor’s, Deer Park, NY, Ossining High School, game tying three-point effort was long.

Taylor led the Fighting Tigers in scoring tossing in 24 points in the contest while freshman center Jude Franck, Spring Valley, NY, Ramapo High School, did an excellent job inside for the Orange & Black with 16 points, nine rebounds, three assists and five blocked shots on the afternoon.

“We dug ourselves too deep a whole in the first half then did a great job of getting after them defensively in the second half to make our comeback,” said Fighting Tiger Head Coach Kevin McCarthy. “Unfortunately in overtime we made some freshman mistakes which cost us. Next year we’ll be more experienced and stronger and things will be different. But for now we’ll start the process of getting ready for next season a little earlier.”