Onondaga Community College defeats Schenectady County CC to get back in the win column

Lazers bounce back from loss to nation’s top ranked team.

SYRACUSE, NY. – November 28, 2007 – The Onondaga Community College men’s basketball team got back in the win column last night by posting a 68-62 home win over Schenectady County Community College.  The Lazers were coming off of a hard fought 94-85 defeat on Sunday at the hands of Hudson Valley Community College.  Onondaga’s record now stands at 5-1 on the season.

Against Schenectady, the Lazers scored the game’s first 13 points and jumped out to an 18-2 advantage.  Schenectady closed to within 6 at halftime, and moved in front, 48-46, with 9:52 to go.  With the game tied at 56 and just over 4:00 remaining, Onondaga’s Chris Vincent (Baldwinsville C.W. Baker) converted back to back three-point plays to put the Lazers ahead for good.  Zack Thomsen (New Berlin Unadilla Valley) led the Lazers with 16 points in the contest.  Luke Schrader (Herkimer) added 12 points and recorded 6 steals, and Vincent also tallied 12 and pulled down a team best 9 rebounds.  Shane Williams (Camillus West Genesee) also reached double figures with 11 points, as Onondaga continued its run of having at least four double figure scorers in every contest this season.  Pete Byrne (Syracuse Bishop Ludden) handed out a team high 5 assists.  Both teams suffered from poor shooting nights, as Onondaga made only 20 of 61 shots (32.8%) while Schenectady converted only 22 of 60 attempts (36.7%).  The visiting Royals held a 45-43 rebounding advantage but turned the ball over 20 times, compared to 16 for the Lazers.

Two days earlier, the Lazers battled Hudson Valley, ranked #1 in the country in the latest National Junior College Athletic Association poll, on even terms throughout much of the contest before falling late.  The Lazers jumped out to a quick 27-18 advantage before the visiting Vikings rallied to take a 6 point halftime advantage.  Hudson Valley extended its lead to 10 early in the second half, but Onondaga responded with a 9-0 run of its own which was ended when Onondaga co-captain Kevin Barrett was seriously injured attempting to take a charge with 12:53 remaining.  When play resumed after a lengthy delay, Hudson Valley quickly moved the lead back to 6.  Onondaga again responded, however, and the Lazers were able to rally and take the lead at 72-69 with just under 9:00 remaining.  Onondaga was still within 3 at 83-80 with 2:00 to go, but the Vikings closed the game on an 11-5 run.  Vincent topped four double figure scorers for Onondaga, tallying 21 points.  Williams added 16, grabbed 14 rebounds, and handed out 7 assists.  Barrett and Schrader added 13 and 10 respectively.

The Lazers return to action on Sunday, when they travel to Clinton Community College for a 2:00 pm tip-off.