Trailing by 11 at the half, the Tompkins Cortland men's basketball team exploded for 57 points in the second half to rally for an 85-77 win at Fulton-Montgomery Community College Thursday. The second-straight win evens the Panthers record at 2-2. Fulton-Montgomery drops to 3-2.

Fulton-Montgomery entered the game as the highest scoring team in the region, and second high in the nation, averaging 104.8 points per game. The Raiders hadn't been held under 100 points in any game this season. On the other side, the Panthers had the second-best scoring defense in the region, allowing just 68.7 points per game. And while the defense did its part in the first half, holding the Raiders to 39 points, the offense couldn't get much going, scoring just 28 to head to the locker room down 39-28.

The second half was a different story on one side of the ball. While the defense again kept Fulton-Montgomery in check, the Panthers got the offense cooking, scoring 57 second-half points and rallying from down 11 to pull out an 85-77 win.

It was a team effort on both ends of the court, with ten players scoring at least one point and ten players collecting at least one defensive rebound. Deamontae Riley (Buffalo/Burgard H.S.) led the way with a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds. Cristian Rosa (Yonkers/Lincoln H.S.) was right behind with 15 points while also recording 3 assists and 2 steals. Justin Peeples (Willingboro, N.J./BCIT West) posted 14 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 assists. Logan Nordman (Onondaga/Onondaga H.S.) came through with 10 points, Devonte Cheatheam (Bronx/Herbert H. Lehman H.S.) and Justin Sykes (Harlem/Lyons Community School) each had 9 points, with Sykes adding 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Brandon Tirado (Manhattan/Quest to Learn H.S.) chipped in 7 points and 4 rebounds.

Looking ahead

The Panthers return home Saturday to host Mohawk Valley Community College.