COBLESKILL MEN’S BASKETBALL TRIO EARN ALL-REGION BASKETBALL HONORS

A trio of SUNY Cobleskill men’s basketball team members has been recognized for their outstanding play on the hardwood this season. Fighting Tiger seniors Daniel Pierre, Brooklyn, NY, High School of Art & Design, and Jamael Lynch, Brooklyn, NY, Bishop Laughlin High School, and freshman Abar Miller, Albany, NY, Redemption Christian Academy, have been named to the NJCAA All-Region III Team by the region’s coaches. Earlier in the week Pierre and Lynch were named to the All-Mountain Valley Conference Team by the league’s coaches.

Led by their all-region selections the Fighting Tigers have posted a 26-4 overall record to date and finished the year ranked second in the final NJCAA Division III National Poll. This marks the thirteenth consecutive season the Cobleskill men’s basketball program will head towards the post season. As the number two seed the Fighting Tigers will meet the number ten seeded Vikings Hudson Valley Community College on Friday March 4th in the quarterfinal round of the 2005 NJCAA Region III Division III Championships hosted by Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, NY. This season marked the eleventh consecutive twenty-win season for the Fighting Tigers the longest current streak of twenty-win seasons in the SUNY System.

“I think that Daniel, Jamael and Abar are exceptional young men to work with and have played a major role in our success,” said Fighting Tiger Head Coach Kevin McCarthy. “Daniel is an exceptional rebounder and inside player, Jamael has improved offensively beyond our expectations and become our leader on the court and Abar is that unique blend of size and finesse that every coach dreams of having come off the bench. These young men are great reflections on our program, their high school programs and a credit to their families.”

Pierre earned First Team All-Region honors for an outstanding senior campaign. During the season, Pierre averaged 13.9 points, 13.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.8 blocked shots per game and posted 20 double/doubles in 30 starts for the Fighting Tigers this season. The 6’7” 225lbs power forward connected on 153 of 268 attempts from the field for a 57.1% mark on the year.  He closes his career as the program leader in career rebounding with 769 boards to date and has established a new single season record for rebounds with 411 going into the Region III Tournament on Friday. He currently ranks sixteenth in career scoring with 698 points. The Fighting Tiger co-captain was also selected to the All-Mountain Valley Conference Team during both his seasons with the Fighting Tigers.

Jamael Lynch earned Second Team All-Region honors by making the transition from reserve to starter this season bringing an improved and diversified game to the Fighting Tiger line-up. In 30 starts, the Brooklyn native has averaged 12.1 points, 4.0 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals per contest. On the season the 6’1” combination guard has connected on 132 of 285 shots, 46.3%, including 25 of 59 from three-point range, 43.9%. Lynch is also shooting 72.1% from the foul line making 75 of 104 attempts.

Miller earned Third Team All-Region honors by becoming one of the premier “sixth men” in the region. During the season the 6’6” 286lbs center/forward averaged 12.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. The Albany, NY native displayed an exceptional shooting touch form the field connecting on 130 of 257 attempts, 50.6%, including 13 of 29, 44.8%, from beyond the three-point line. Miller also converted on 76.6% of his free throw attempts making 98 of 128 attempts.

During Head Coach Kevin McCarthy’s tenure, Fighting Tiger players have earned All-Region III recognition twenty-nine times in thirteen seasons.