Onondaga Community College defeats Corning CC in regular season finale

Lazers await regional seeding following 7th win in the last 8 games.

SYRACUSE, NY. -- February 23, 2006 -- The Onondaga Community College men’s basketball team defeated Corning Community College, 81-74, at home last night in its final regular season contest. Onondaga, winners in 7 of its last 8 games, closes the regular season with an overall record of 17-11, a Mid-State Athletic Conference mark of 7-7, and a record of 14-11 in NJCAA Region III Division III play. The Lazers will await their seeding in the upcoming Region III Division III Tournament. Onondaga is expected to play in a first round game next Tuesday, February 28. The opponent, site, and time will be announced on Sunday evening.

The contest against Corning was closely contested throughout, with neither team holding a lead greater than 7 points at any time. Jeff Riker (Dryden) led the Lazers with a career high 27 points, along with 8 rebounds. Kenny Gethers (Syracuse Bishop Grimes) added 26 points and collected a team best 19 rebounds and 4 steals. Adrian Hanks (Liverpool) added 15 points and Pat Mannion (Marcellus) handed out 6 assists. Corning held a 46-42 rebounding advantage, but the Lazers forced 23 Red Baron turnovers and connected on 26 of 35 free throws, compared to 7 of 13 for Corning. The win avenged an 85-82 loss suffered by the Lazers at Corning on January 25.

Last night’s contest marked the final regular season game for many Onondaga players. Riker, Mannion, Eric Latendress (Oriskany), Cody Endress (Homer), Reggie Flynn (Jamesville-DeWitt), Dan Frisina (Syracuse Henninger), and Joel Hughes (Syracuse Bishop Grimes) are all completing their second season at Onondaga. Hanks and Gethers are transfers who are also completing their second college season, and Dom Perioli (Liverpool) is a first year player but will graduate this spring.