An 18-2 run late in the second half blew open a tight game and helped the Panthers men's basketball team to an 81-69 win over SUNY Broome Thursday. Tompkins Cortland is now 12-4 overall and 10-1 in the Mid-State Athletic Conference, the first time the Panthers have reached 10 conference wins since their last conference championship in 2013-14. Broome drops to 6-12 overall and 4-7 in the MSAC.

The game featured eight lead changes and seven tied scores over the first 20 minutes of play. The last lead change belonged to the Panthers and let the home team take a 38-34 lead into the locker room. Coming out for the second half, the Panthers tried to pull away, stretching the lead to nine points in the opening minutes before Broome rallied to pull get back to within one point at 61-60 with 8:00 left to play. After the teams exchanged baskets, a layup by Khai Pugh (Syracuse/Nottingham H.S.) kicked off the game-deciding run. Over the next six minutes, Broome turned the ball over six times and the Panthers took advantage, racing out to an 81-64 lead entering the final minute of action.

Pugh was one of five Panthers in double figures, posting yet another double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, and just missing a triple-double with 8 assists. Javonte Long (Harlem/Clayton H.S.) was the game-high scorer with 18 points, adding 5 assists and 5 steals. Bryan Viscaino (Manhattan/Monsignor Scanlon H.S.) had a double-double with 17 points and 10 boards and Damari Johnson (Binghamton/Johnson City H.S.) and Marqiis Samuels (Long Island/The Patrick School) each had 11 points.

Looking ahead

The Panthers next host Mohawk Valley Community College in a non-conference game on Saturday.