Onondaga Community College defeats Division II Jamestown-Cattaraugus CC for 2nd time

Lazers even season mark with victory in home opener.

SYRACUSE, NY. – November 20, 2006 – The Onondaga Community College men’s basketball team defeated Jamestown-Cattaraugus Community College, 99-91, yesterday afternoon in their first home game of the 2006-07 season. The victory was the Lazers’ second over the Jaguars this season, and evened their record at 3-3. Onondaga had previously defeated the NJCAA Division II (scholarship-granting) school, 103-93, in the season opener at the Columbia-Greene Community College Twins Classic.

Onondaga started fast against Jamestown, jumping out to a 10-0 advantage. The visitors rallied, however, and came back to take a 20-19 lead. The remainder of the first half went back and forth, with Onondaga holding a slim 52-49 halftime advantage. The Lazers again started the half quickly, scoring the first 10 points of the second stanza to go ahead by 13. The Jaguars again rallied, though, and eventually tied the game at 83-83 with 6:31 remaining. Onondaga responded with the game’s next 8 points, and then held on for the win. Chris Vincent (Baldwinsville C.W. Baker) paced the Lazers with a career high 29 points. He was joined in double figures by Rich Buckmon (Syracuse Henninger) and Steve Siechen (East Syracuse-Minoa), with 26 and 17 points respectively. Ryan Chapman (Syracuse Bishop Ludden) was Onondaga’s top rebounder with 7, as the Lazers held a slim 43-41 advantage on the glass. Lazer point guards Zack Thomsen (New Berlin Unadilla Valley) and Tyler Kurzinski (Central Square P.V. Moore) handed out 10 and 9 assists.

Onondaga was coming into the contest off of a disappointing 77-55 loss at SUNY Delhi last Thursday night. The Broncos, the #12 team in the nation, held the Lazers to 24 second half points and to their lowest offensive output since the final regular season contest of the 2000-01 season. The Lazers and Broncos were tied at 31 at the half, and Onondaga remained within single digits until the game’s final minutes when Delhi pulled away. Siechen tallied 15 points and Vincent added 11 to lead Onondaga.

Onondaga returns to action next Tuesday evening, November 28, at Schenectady County Community College. Tip-off is set for 5:00 pm. The next home contest will be on Saturday, December 2, when Clinton Community College visits for a 3:00 pm start.