The Panthers men's basketball team kept to its high-scoring ways with an 89-60 win at Finger Lakes Community College on Tuesday. Tompkins Cortland Community College, the leading offensive team in Region 3 with an average of 86.9 points per game, improves to 6-1 overall and in the Mid-State Athletic Conference. Finger Lakes falls to 5-6 overall and 3-4 in the MSAC.

The duo of Khai Pugh (Syracuse/Nottingham H.S.) and Marqiis Samuels (Long Island/The Patrick School) provided the early spark, combining to score 38 points as the Panthers took a 44-28 led into the half. The lead was never threatened in the second half, growing to a peak of 30 points in the closing minutes.

Thirteen players scored for the Panthers. Samuels led the way with 26 points, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 2 rebounds. Pugh had his seventh double-double of the season with 24 points and 15 rebounds, adding 4 assists, 2 steals, and a block. Damari Johnson (Binghamton/Johnson City H.S.) added 8 points and 13 rebounds while Kobe Nwosu (Spring Valley/North Rockland H.S.) collected 11 boards. As a team, Tompkins Cortland out-rebounded Finger Lakes 63-to-50.

Looking ahead

The Panthers return home on Saturday to take on North Country Community College at 1 p.m.