Cold shooting and poor ball security combined to keep Tompkins Cortland from challenging 11th-ranked Onondaga Community College Saturday, losing at home 87-54. The result drops the Panthers 4-10 overall and 1-4 in the Mid-State Athletic Conference. Onondaga is 16-3 overall and 4-0 in the MSAC.
The Panthers shot just 28.6% from the floor in the first half, while the visiting Lazers scorched the nets at a 50% clip. The 40-24 halftime deficit grew to the 87-54 final as the shooting percentage became more balanced, but the Panthers turned it over 17 times, or 10 times more than the Lazers did during the second half. The final statistics had Onondaga outshooting the Panthers 43.9% to 32.7%, and the Panthers with 28 turnovers to 14 for the Lazers.
Vernell Reid (Syracuse/Bishop Ludden H.S.) netted a career-high 20 points while also grabbing 6 rebounds and handing out 3 assists. Devonte Henry (Brooklyn/Boys and Girls H.S.) led the team with 9 rebounds.
The Panthers next play Wednesday at Cayuga Community College.