A close loss to the Community College of Rhode Island, then ranked 8th in the country, in last weekend’s Cougar Holiday Classic tournament had the Genesee Community College men’s basketball team ready to host the #7 team in the country in Lakeland Community College on Saturday afternoon.
The Cougars saw the Lakers for the second time this season and jumped out to an early nine point lead. Genesee maintained the nine point advantage throughout the first half by scoring quickly in transition, avoiding the Lakers press defense. Kenton Chan-Man (Brooklyn, NY) scored 16 first half points for the Cougars who saw their lead vanish when Lakeland made a 10-0 run to close out the opening twenty minutes by causing turnovers with their press. Both teams were tied at 46 at the half.
The second half started much like the first as Genesee took an 8 point lead just three minutes in. Chan-Man helped the Cougars stay on top going four-of-six from three-point range. The Lakeland press once again allowed the Lakers to close the gap by turning turnovers into points and cutting a six point GCC lead down to one with less than two minutes to play. The Cougars hit four out of their last five free-throws to maintain the one point lead and came up with a game-winning defensive stop with five seconds to play to knock of the #7 Lakers, 89-88.
(#4 Tyshawn Ferguson scores in GCC's win over #7 Lakeland CC on Saturday afternoon)
Chan-Man finished with a game high 32 points and also grabbed five rebounds. Deylon Bovell (Brooklyn, NY) had a strong game with 17 points before fouling out late in the second half, and Tyshawn Ferguson (Chicago, IL) added 15 points and 6 boards.
Genesee improves their record to 6-5 overall and even the season series at 1-1 with Lakeland. They will resume play after the winter break on January 6th when the travel to Niagara College in Canada.
