Onondaga Community College defeats Broome CC in low scoring contest

Lazers still alive for MSAC playoff berth with two games remaining

SYRACUSE, NY. February 12, 2010 The Onondaga Community College mens basketball team defeated Broome Community College, 62-55, in Binghamton last night, in a game that was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but was postponed a day due to the winter storm which hit the southern tier. The win avenged a loss to Broome on January 16, and kept the Lazers alive for a Mid-State Athletic Conference playoff berth. Onondaga is now in 5th place in the conference standings, and trails Cayuga Community College and Finger Lakes Community College by 1 game with 2 games remaining in the regular season. The top four teams in the final regular season standings will compete for the conference championship on February 20 and 21 at Tompkins Cortland Community College. Tompkins Cortland has clinched the top seed in the tournament.

Onondaga jumped out to an early 22-13 lead against the homestanding Hornets, before Broome rallied for a 5 point lead of its own late in the first half. The Lazers regrouped, however, and a Dan Mabbett (Mohawk Jarvis) layup at the halftime buzzer tied the game at 36. The second half was a tightly contested affair, with neither team able to take a lead of more than 4 points. Broome took a 55-54 lead with 3:56 to go on what turned out to be their final field goal. Mabbet scored with 2:11 left to put Onondaga back in front, and Andrew Lucio (Solvay) and Nate Foote (Norwich) were a perfect 6 of 6 from the foul line in the final minute to clinch the win. Mabbett led the Lazers with 12 points, while Zach Chawgo (LaFayette) added 11 and pulled down a team best 11 rebounds. Lucio totaled 10 points and he and Dave Foltz (Auburn) each handed out 5 assists. The Lazers overcame a dismal 20 of 65 (30.8%) shooting performance by limiting Broome to 22 of 58 (37.9%) and holding a 48-36 rebounding advantage.

Onondaga has two home games remaining on the regular season. The Lazers will host Jefferson Community College on Saturday afternoon at 3:00 pm, then host Tompkins Cortland Community College on Tuesday evening at 7:00 pm.