The Panthers men's basketball team held on for a 78-77 win at Hudson Valley Community College Sunday. Tompkins Cortland improves to 8-4 overall and 8-3 in regional play. Hudson Valley is now 2-11 overall.

The Panthers held a 13-point lead midway through the second half, but the Vikings rallied to take a lead in the closing minutes. Tompkins Cortland stopped the slide, and with two minutes left, the score was tied at 72-72. Bryan Viscaino (Manhattan/Monsignor Scanlon H.S.) sank a pair of free throws to give the Panthers a 74-72 lead with 1:50 left, and after the team traded empty possessions, Damari Johnson (Binghamton/Johnson City H.S.) drained a 3-pointer with 22 second left to make the margin 77-72.  A layup by Hudson Valley cut the lead to 77-74 with 14 second, but a free throw by Kobe Nwosu (Spring Valley/North Rockland H.S.) with six seconds left. A Hudson Valley 3-ponter with one second left made it a one-point game at the buzzer.

Viscaino led the team with 30 points and 10 rebounds. Johnson had 23 pints and 8 boards, Dwain Frazier (Jamaica/Jamaica H.S.) added 10 points.

Looking ahead

The Panthers return to Mid-State Athletic Conference action Wednesday at home vs. Cayuga Community College.