Posted: Dec 17, 2011
CORTLAND, N.Y. – The SUNYIT Men's Basketball Team (1-6) fell to host Cortland (8-2) on Saturday, 93-63 in a game controlled almost completely by the Red Dragons.
Cortland made a school single-game record 17 three-pointers on the day, good for 42% from long-range (17 of 41). Jeremy Smith led the team with 17 points (3 of 7 from 3-pt range), and eight Cortland players made at least one trey en route to the rout.
For the Wildcats, T'Andre Richardson (Utica, N.Y. / Utica-Proctor) led in scoring with 20 points, but with 15 coming in the second half in which the Wildcats never threatened the Red Dragon lead.
SUNYIT forward and captain Derek Rowe (Mexico, N.Y. / Mexico Academy) contributed a strong, gutsy performance with 16 points and 13 rebounds, including 10 of 11 from the free throw line.
SUNYIT was within six at 28-22 after a Rowe layup with 7:51 left in the first half, but Cortland finished the half on a 22-5 run, featuring three Manning three-pointers, and led 50-27 at halftime. The Red Dragons' lead remained in the 20-point range for almost the entire second half.
Ball security was the downfall for the Wildcats – SUNYIT made 16 turnovers in the first half to just 6 by the Red Dragons.
The Wildcats will look for better luck in warmer weather, traveling to Tampa, Florida, to face DePauw in the first round of the Tampa Bay Shootout on Dec. 29th. Game time is set for 5:00 pm.