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SYRACUSE, NY. – December 15, 2008 – The Onondaga Community College men’s basketball team split a pair of games in the second annual Onondaga Community College Classic over the past weekend. The Lazers lost a closely contested 83-80 decision to Lehigh Carbon Community College in Saturday’s semi-final, before bouncing back with a 78-56 win over Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology in Sunday’s consolation game. Fashion Institute of Technology, an 83-50 winner over Benjamin Franklin in Saturday’s other semi-final, captured the Classic championship with a 103-60 win over Lehigh Carbon in Sunday’s title contest. With the wins, Fashion remained undefeated at 10-0, and is currently ranked #10 in the country in the latest National Junior College Athletic Association Division III poll.
The Onondaga-Lehigh Carbon contest was a close affair throughout, with neither team holding a lead of more than 8 points at any point in the game. With the game tied at 74 and just over 1:00 remaining, Lehigh’s Dawayne Brown buried a three-pointer from the corner, and the Cougars went 6 for 6 from the foul line in the final minute to hold on. Jordan Barzee (Syracuse Christian Home School) led Onondaga with 23 points and 4 assists. Eric Ball (Syracuse Bishop Grimes) added 14 points, and Matt Potter (New Berlin Unadilla Valley) added 12 points, 15 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots. Both teams struggled shooting the ball, as Lehigh made only 31 of 81 attempts (38%), and the Lazers connected on only 29 of 81 shots (36%). Lehigh held a 57-52 rebounding advantage.
Against Benjamin Franklin, Onondaga scored the game’s first 4 points and never trailed. Barzee again led the way with 19 points 7 assists, and 4 steals, while Ball added 17 points on 7 of 8 shooting. Potter led the Lazers with 7 rebounds and 3 blocks, while Ryan Ellis (Seneca Falls Mynderse Academy) handed out a team high 9 assists and Dam Mabbett (Mohawk Jarvis) recorded 5 rebounds and 4 steals. Onondaga shot the ball considerably better than they did in the opening round, connecting on 32 of 63 field goal attempts (51%), while limiting Benjamin Franklin to 20 of 73 (27%) from the floor. Benjamin Franklin outrebounded the Lazers, 48-43, but committed 20 turnovers.
Barzee was named to the Classic All-Tournament team. He was joined on the All-Tournament team by Anthony Labase (Fashion), Dominique Jones (Fashion), Jacob Waylen (Lehigh Carbon), and Dailon Wilson (Benjamin Franklin). Anthony Lessane (Fashion) was named the Classic’s Most Outstanding Player.
After a break for final exams and the holiday season, the Lazers will return to action on January 5, when they host Columbia Greene Community College in a 7:00 pm non-conference matchup. Onondaga will then open Mid-State Athletic Conference play on Thursday, January 8, as they host Finger Lakes Community College, with tip-off set for 8:00 pm.