SUNY Broome Men Fall To Division II Opponent In Thrilling Home Opener

The men's basketball team hosted Erie CC on Wednesday, battling to a 90-88 loss in OT.

Erie, an NJCAA Region III member competing at the Division II level for basketball, sunk a three-pointer with 0.4 seconds left in OT to take a 90-88 lead over the Hornets. SUNY Broome called a timeout to draw up an inbound play, but the baseball pass thrown to just in front of the free-throw line of the Hornets' basket was deflected by a Kats defender as time expired.

A close first half saw the Hornets hold a 28-26 lead with 5:14 remaining. After Erie eventually went in front by four as the half winded down, Amauri Truax hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to move the Hornets within one, 40-39. The Hornets held a 73-71 lead with just over four minutes left in regulation before the game ended up knotting up at 78-78 with less than a minute left. With under ten seconds, Erie moved ahead 80-78 and also went to the free-throw line for a 1-and-1. After the front end of the 1-and-1 was missed, Antonio Maria tied the game and sent it into OT.

Maria hit a three-pointer late in OT to move SUNY Broome ahead, 86-85. After forcing a jump ball on the other end, the Hornets controlled the ball and held a one-point lead. The Kats eventually possessed the ball with the score still 86-85 and 57.1 seconds left and moved ahead. The Hornets would regain an 88-87 lead before the game-winning three-pointer by Erie.

Maria led the Hornets in scoring with 24 points. Truax added 21 points. Antuan Darden and Connor Green each had yet another double-double as Darden totaled 12 points and 10 rebounds while Green added 16 points and 10 rebounds. SUNY Broome shot 49% from the field but just 69% from the free-throw line in the loss. 

The Hornets will go on the road on Saturday and Sunday against the current #3 and #4 teams in the country in Mohawk Valley CC and Herkimer College.

@BroomeAthletics