MARCY, N.Y.- The SUNYIT Men's Basketball team (17-8, 12-6 NEAC) ended their regular season on a high note, defeating Penn St. Berks (7-17, 7-11 NEAC) 93-71 in a NEAC showdown.
In the final home games of their careers, seniors Ryan James (Saratoga Springs, N.Y. / Saratoga Springs) and Maurice Holden (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Snow Hill) did exactly what one would expect a senior to do. The combo stepped up and led their team to victory. Holden stepped up for the Wildcats as he ran the offense for much of the second half. He tallied 4 points and 2 rebounds to go along with setting up several Wildcat buckets and playing tough on the defensive side. James stepped up in another big way, yet again leading the Wildcats in scoring as he totaled 27 points while shooting 50% from the field and added 3 rebounds.
The Nittany Lions hung around through much of the first half as they were able match the Wildcats explosive offence. This changed late in the first half as the Wildcats were able to put together a mini-run to take a 41-30 lead into the break.
From there the Wildcats never looked back. SUNYIT exploded for 52 second half points shooting almost 46% from the field. Much of the offence was generated off second chance opportunities as the hosts were able to win the rebounding battle 58-34. Both Kaleel Johnson (Syracuse, N.Y. / Syr. Acad. of Science) and Malcolm Jones (Syracuse, N.Y. / Fowler) had double figure rebounds for the Wildcats, Johnson with 14 to go along with 8 points, and Jones with 13 and 14 points.
Penn St. Berks hung tough in the second half trying to get back in the game but were unable to do so. Darren Major scored 14 points for the visitors and Joel Ellison added 10 to lead the Nittany Lion attack.
James's 27 points were the story of the game, as the senior came just a point shy of his career high (set last year in a 28-point performance against SUNY Cobleskill). James's outside shooting perfectly complemented a collection of drives to the basket, as the 6-foot guard used both power and craft to get to the rim.
James will finish his career as a top-15 all-time scorer at SUNYIT. His 16.4 ppg and 45% three-point this season are both fifth-best in the NEAC.
