FIGHTING TIGER MEN DROP 58-56 DECISION TO HOSTOS IN NATIONAL CONSOLATION GAME

The SUNY Cobleskill men’s basketball program could not overcome a cold shooting second half dropping a 58-56 decision to Hostos Community College from the Bronx, NY in the consolation game of the 2008 NJCAA Division III National Championship Tournament hosted by SUNY Delhi in Delhi, NY over the weekend. The loss closes the books on the Fighting Tigers season with a 26-8 overall record.

Leading the way for the Cobleskill offensively was freshman guard Michael Knight, Spring Valley, NY, Spring Valley High School, who led the team with 16 points to go with nine rebounds on the evening and freshman Nyquan Bellamy, Poughkeepsie, NY, Poughkeepsie High School, who chipped in 11 points in the contest. Senior power forward Anthony Armstead, Schenectady, NY, Schenectady High School, closed out his career with an 11 point, five rebound, two block shot effort while senior forward Stanley Francois, Valley Cottage, NY, Valley Cottage High School, had eight points, 10 rebounds and three assists in the contest.

“Certainly we would have liked to finish with a win tonight but this still does not diminish what these young men have accomplished this season,” said Fighting Tiger Head Coach Kevin McCarthy. “I’m extremely proud of them and I’m very grateful to all of our loyal fans who followed us not only here to Delhi but also to Herkimer for the regional tournament. Their support and devotion to our program has played a major role in what we’ve attempted to do here at Cobleskill and for my money they are the best in the country.”

For his play, senior forward Stanley Francois was named to the All-Tournament Team for the Fighting Tigers after averaging 9.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game connecting on 10-of-20 shots from the field for a shooting percentage of 50.0% fro the championship tournament.

TIGER NOTES: Stanley Francois closed out his Fighting Tiger career ranking third in career rebounding with 566 career caroms and fourteenth in career scoring with 754 points becoming only the third person in team history with 700 points and 500 rebounds. Anthony Armstead finished his career ranking twenty-fourth in career scoring with 632 points and twenty-fifth in career rebounding with 257 boards. Senior point guard Harley Fuller, Gloversville, NY, Broadalbin-Perth High School, finished his career as the most prolific passer in program history establishing program records for most career assists with 434 and most assists in a single season with 259. The Fighting Tiger point guard also closes his career ranked tied for twenty-eighth place with 227 rebounds.