Onondaga Community College Men’s Basketball returns to the court with three games this week

Lazers host Columbia-Greene CC before opening MSAC play

SYRACUSE, NY. – January 3, 2011 – The Onondaga Community College men’s basketball team will end a 22-day layoff for the semester break on Tuesday when they host Columbis-Greene Community College in their final non-conference outing before Mid-State Athletic Conference play begins. The Lazers and Twins will tip off at 3:00 pm on Tuesday afternoon. Following that game, the Lazers will open Mid-State Athletic Conference play on Thursday evening at 8:00 pm against Finger Lakes Community College. The Lakers are currently ranked #5 in the nation in the most recent National Junior College Athletic Association Division III national poll. Onondaga will close the week with another MSAC contest, at neighboring Cayuga Community College on Saturday afternoon at 3:00 pm.

Onondaga is currently 8-4 on the season, and has won 7 of their last 9 contests. Immediately before breaking for final exams and the holidays the Lazers split a pair of games against nationally ranked opposition, defeating #10 Sullivan Community College, 82-73 in overtime, and falling 77-71 to #9 Mass Bay Community College. Freshman Jesse Gates (Liverpool) leads the Lazers with a 16.5 points per game average. He is also averaging 7.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. Returnee Heath Stone (Chittenango) is averaging 13.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, while freshman Bandon Seibt (Central Square P.V. Moore) is scoring at a 10.9 point per game clip. Point guard Andrew Lucio (Solvay) is ranked #7 in the nation in assists, handing out 6.3 per contest.