Onondaga Community College captures 88-71 win at Finger Lakes Community College

Balanced attack keys win over defending MSAC and Region III Champs

SYRACUSE, NY. - January 14, 2007 - The Onondaga Community College men's basketball team traveled to Finger Lakes Community College yesterday and came away with an 88-71 win over the host Lakers. The win, Onondaga's 8th in their last 9 games, raised the Lazers' overall record to 10-4 and their Mid-State Athletic Conference mark to 2-0. Finger Lakes, the defending MSAC and National Junior College Athletic Association Region III Division III champion, fell to 9-4 overall and 2-1 in conference.

Onondaga opened up a lead of as much as 12 points in the first half, before settling for a 47-41 advantage at the break. Finger Lakes was able to close within 1 at 49-48 early in the second half, before a 10-0 Lazer run pushed the lead back to double figures. The Lakers were never able to get closer than within 8 points the rest of the way. Rich Buckmon (Syracuse Henninger) headed four double figure scorers with 21 points, and added 8 rebounds and 6 assists. Danny Smith (Canastota) added 20 points, while Zack Thomsen (New Berlin Unadilla Valley) recorded a career high 19 points and handed out 8 assists. Steve Siechen (East Syracuse-Minoa) added 15 points, and Shane Williams (Camillus West Genesee) pulled down a team high 13 rebounds. Onondaga made 33 of 65 shots from the floor (51%), including 9 of 22 from behind the three-point arc. The Lazers limited Finger Lakes to 24 of 58 (41%). The Lazers held a 40-32 rebounding advantage.

Onondaga hosts Tompkins-Cortland Community College tomorrow (Monday) in a 3:00 pm Martin Luther King Day game.