After honoring sophomores prior to the game, the Tompkins Cortland Community College men's basketball team used a decisive second half to roll to an 84-67 win over SUNY Adirondack on Saturday. Tompkins Cortland's record to 8-9. Adirondack is now 3-16 overall.

Fittingly, sophomore Marven Louissaint (Brooklyn/Erasmus Hall H.S.) scored the game's first basket, but Adirondack responded with a 14-2 run to take a 10-point lead.  The visiting Timberwolves held the lead most of the first half, taking a 39-34 advantage to the locker room.

Coming out of the break with a new level of intensity, the Panthers quickly erased the deficit, tying the game at 41-41 on a 3-pointer from Cameron Thompson (Syracuse/Institute of Technology) just two minutes into the half. The teams traded baskets until a 7-0 run capped by a layup from Devonte Cheatham (Bronx/Herbert H. Lehman H.S.) gave the Panthers a cushion at 56-49. The lead grew the rest of the half, reaching 17 points in the closing minutes of action.

All three sophomores reached double figures in scoring for the Panthers, led by a big game from Louissaint. The forward recorded the sixth double-double of his career, finishing with 20 points and 10 rebounds, along with 3 steals, a block, and an assist. Justin Sykes (Harlem/Lyons Community School) posted 14 points, 6 rebounds 4 assists, 3 steals, and a block. Classmate Cheatham added 11 points and 5 rebounds.

Michael Sinclair (Brooklyn/Academy for College Prep and Career Exploration) also had a big game, posting 15 points and a team-leading 6 assists along with 5 rebounds.

Looking ahead

The Panthers hit the road for a Sunday game at North Country Community College.