The Tompkins Cortland Community College men's basketball got back in the win column with a 79-75 home win over Jefferson Community College Tuesday. The win evens the Panthers at 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the Mid-State Athletic Conference. Jefferson is 2-4 overall and 0-1 in the MSAC.

The Panthers never trailed in the game. With the score tied at 8-8, Justin Peeples (Willingboro, N.J./BCIT West) drained a jumper and a three-pointer on the next two possessions, putting the Panthers up 13-8. Jefferson came back to within a point, but eight straight by the Panthers gave the home team a 23-14 lead with 8:11 left in the half. A layup by Justin Sykes (Harlem/Lyons Community School) with just under five minutes left gave the Panthers the biggest lead of the half, 29-18. The margin stood at 37-29 at the break.

The second half opened with Brandon Tirado (Manhattan/Quest to Learn H.S.) draining a three-pointer to push the lead to 11 points at 40-29. The Cannoneers made several runs in the second half, getting to within four points several times, but the Panthers always had an answer. With the score 68-64 with 4:28 left, a 7-0 run over the next two minutes pushed the lead back to double figures at 75-64 and all but sealed the win for the home team. The led remained at six points or more the rest of the way until a last second three-pointer for Jefferson made the final margin 79-75.

Tirado led all scorers with a career-high 23 points along with 6 steals, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds. Peeples posted his second double-double of the season, going for 17 points and 12 rebounds, adding 5 steals and 3 assists. Sykes chipped in 11 points and 7 rebounds while Deamontae Riley (Buffalo/Burgard H.S.) tallied 7 points and 7 rebounds.

Looking ahead

Tuesday was the final home game of the semester as the Panther close out 2021 with three games on the road. Next up will be another MSAC contest as the Panthers play Thursday at Finger Lakes Community College.