Strong finishes to each half powered the Tompkins Cortland Community College men's basketball team to an 82-76 win over Corning Community College on Wednesday. Tompkins Cortland improves to 10-9 overall and 8-4 in the Mid-State Athletic Conference. Corning is now 11-8 overall and 8-4 in the MSAC.

The lead changes sides five times in the first half. Corning owned the biggest lead at 45-34 before the Panthers closed out the half with a 15-4 run over the final four minutes to send the teams to the break tied at 49-49.  The second half saw four more lead changes and another push at the end by the Panthers. With just over five minutes left to play, the score was tied at 75-75. A jumper by Damari Johnson (Binghamton/Johnson City H.S.) started a nearly four minute stretch where the Panthers outscored the Red Barons 7-0. A single free throw with 1:16 left gave Corning its only point over the final five minutes of the game, and also provided the final point for either team as the Panthers ran out the clock with an 82-76 win.

Joel Davis (Watertown/Watertown H.S.) had a huge double-double of 18 points and 18 rebounds. Makai Reed (Syracuse/Syracuse Academy of Science) led all scorers with 21 points while also pulling down five rebounds. Dayrien Franklin (Mastic/Center Moriches H.S.) tossed in 13 points while Cristian Rosa (Yonkers/Lincoln H.S.) had six assists and nine points.

Looking ahead

The Panthers are back home on Saturday hosting Columbia-Greene Community College at 1 p.m.