Playing one of the highest-scoring teams in the country, the Tompkins Cortland Community College men's basketball team led most of the way but couldn't hold on as the North Country Community College Saints rallied for a 93-91 win. The loss drops the Panthers to 2-3 overall and 2-2 in Region III games. North Country is 7-1 overall and 5-1 in region.

North Country came into the game averaging more than 107 points per game, the second most in the nation. The Panthers held the Saints to just 40 points in the first half, taking a 50-40 lead into the break. In the second half, the lead changed hands nine times, including five times in the final two minutes. The ten-point halftime grew to a spread of 14 points before the Saints used a 17-2 run to take the lead for the first time at 76-75. The teams traded the lead over the next four baskets before the second tied score had the game at 85-85.

A basket by Dqui Berry (Jamaica H.S./Grover Cleveland) put the Panthers up, but a three-pointer from the Saints put the visitors up 89-88. A layup by Mario Antenor (Lauderdale Lakes, Fla./Coconut Creek H.S.) was answered with a bucket by the Saints before Antenor hit his second basket of the closing minutes to give the Panthers the lead at 91-90 with 26.7 seconds left. Needing a stop, the Panthers couldn't slow down the Saints as a three-pointer gave the lead back to North Country at 93-91. A missed shot for the Panthers was followed by a foul with 1.8 second left, and even though the Saints missed both free throws, the desperation heave at the buzzer came up well short.

Tahleek Weekes (South Queens/Construction H.S.) finished with a team-high 23 points along with 5 rebounds and 3 assists before fouling out late in the second half. Bakary Magas (Harlem/Heritage H.S.) had a double-double of 22 points and 14 rebounds while Antenor finished with 15 points off the bench. Berry added 14 points, 4 boards, and 3 assists.

The Panthers look to get back on track Saturday with a 4 p.m. game against Clinton Community College.