A game that featured 15 lead changes ended with the Tompkins Cortland men's basketball team holding on for a 72-70 win over Finger Lakes Community College Thursday. The Panthers move above .500 for the first time this season, now standing at 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the Mid-State Athletic Conference. Finger Lakes 4-6 overall and 0-1 in the MSAC.
The game was back and forth in the first half, with the Lakers holding a slim 37-36 lead at the break. The second half started the same way, but the Panthers used a 14-2 run to take the biggest lead of the game, 59-52, at the midway point of the half. Eleven straight for the Lakers was followed by six in a row for Panthers, putting the visitors back in front 65-63. The see-saw game continued with the Lakers tying the game again at 65-65 and 67-67, but each time the Panthers responded. A bucket by Justin Sykes (Harlem/Lyons Community School) with just under four minutes left made it 69-67, and after a possession that featured four offensive rebounds, Sykes scored another basket to make it 71-67 with just over 3:30 left in the game. The end of the game was tense. Thanks to four turnovers, the Panthers managed just one shot from the floor and scored only a single point on a free throw over the final 3:30, but it proved to be enough as the Lakers scored just four points, and none over the final 75 seconds of the contest.
As has been the case all year, the Panthers relied on contributions from the entire team. Four players scored in double figures and two reached double figures in rebounds. Justin Peeples (Willingboro, N.J./BCIT West) reached that level in both categories, going for 12 points and 10 rebounds in his second straight double-double. Cristian Rosa (Yonkers/Lincoln H.S.) and Logan Nordman (Onondaga/Onondaga H.S.) shared the team lead with 14 points, followed by Brandon Tirado (Manhattan/Quest to Learn H.S.) with 13 points. Devonte Cheatham (Bronx/Herbert H. Lehman H.S.) had 11 points and 8 rebounds and Sykes finished with 11 rebounds and 6 points.
Looking ahead
The Panthers play at North Country Community College Sunday.