Story Created:
Mar 6, 2010 at 10:57 PM EST
Story Updated:
Mar 6, 2010 at 10:57 PM EST
PLATTSBURGH, NY - The SUNYIT men's basketball team had four Wildcats in double figures and avoided a late rally to defeat Medaille College 64-63 and head to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time in school history. The Wildcats have now won eighteen straight contests and are now a program-best 26-4.
The Wildcats remained hot from last night's victory, jumping out to a 21-8 lead in the first nine minutes of the contest. Medaille would get right back in it with a 16-2 run and take a one-point lead, 24-23, with 6:10 left before the half. SUNYIT would maintain its composure, however, closing the half with a 12-5 run to go into the break with a six-point lead, 35-29.
SUNYIT would come out on fire in the second half, extending their lead to 18 in the first four minutes of action and would maintain a double-digit lead throughout most of the half, finding themselves up 13, 64-51, with 6:13 left. That's when Medaille would rally, scoring 12 unanswered points to be down just one with 49 seconds left. After a missed jumper by SUNYIT on its next possession, Medaille would get the ball back with seven seconds left, but senior Floyd Fitzpatrick Thorne (Brooklyn, NY/Paul Smith's College) would force a jump ball and give possession back to the Wildcats. SUNYIT would turn the ball over on its next possession, however, giving the Mavericks one last chance, but they would squander the opportunity by once again turning the ball over and sealing the win the for the Wildcats.
Junior David Golembiowski (Barneveld, NY/Holland Patent) had game highs of 22 points, 15 rebounds and six blocks, while Fitzpatrick Thorne registered 14 points, five rebounds and a team-high five assists. Senior Diloo Brown (Harlem, NY/Technical Career Institute) had 14 points, six rebounds and three assists, while fellow classmate Aaron Swancott (Boonville, NY/Adirondack) scored 12 points and grabbed four rebounds.
Ron Malicki scored 15 points for Medaille, while Mike Berkun added 14 and Chris Moscato chipped in 12.
SUNYIT will now take on No. 1 seed Williams College (MA) next Friday, March 12. The site has yet to be determined.
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