Gators fall to MSV, 82-77
Despite a career-high performance from a pair of Gators, Sage dropped a SKyline game to CMSV.
Albany, NY---The Sage Colleges men's basketball team hosted the Dolphins of the College of Mount Saint Vincent in a Skyline Conference game in the Kahl Campus Center. The contest was the first game of the 2010 half of the season for both teams. Sage led at the half 41-37 but a strong second half effort propelled the Dolphins to an 82-77 victory. With the win, the College of Mt. St. Vincent is now 5-3 overall and 2-2 in the Skyline Conference, while Sage drops to 2-7, and 1-4 in the Skyline.
MSV's freshman center Carson Miller (New Oxford, PA/New Oxford) led all players with his double-double on 20 points, 15 rebounds with a pair of blocks.
Sage led 41-37 at the half over the Dolphins and led by as many as 10 points in the first stanza (38-28, 4:15). Pacing the Gators was newcomer rookie forward Marcus Hunter (Ridge, NY/Longwood) as he had 13 points at the break. Rookie Alex King (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs) had seven boards in the first half as Sage held a 24-21 edge on the boards.
MSV's junior guard Dino Johnson (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam) had 11 points in the first half, while Miller had 10 points and six first half points with a pair of blocks.
Sage held the Dolphins to a 34.3% shooting performance in the first half (12-35), while they managed to hit a season-high 73.3% from the free throw line (11-15) to help their case in the game.
In the second half MSV opened on a run and took an 11-point lead over the Gators (54-43, 15:43). The Gators did not go away and would tie the game at 73-73 with just 2:48 left to play, but the Dolphins pulled away with some key steals and clutch free throws.
By game's end, MSV had three players finish in double-digit scoring on the night as Johnson netted 17 points with eight rebounds and senior Nick DiMaggio (Croton, NY/Croton-Harmon) added 16 points.
For the Gators, Hunter led the team despite limited play in the second half as he had 15 points in his Gator debut. King finished with a career-high 14 points and 13 rebounds as he had a double-double. Both freshman Mason Horne (Albany, NY/LaSalle Institute) and junior Ryan Harris (Hudson Falls, NY/Glens Falls) finished with 11 points each and freshman forward Matt Farbotko (Rouses Point, NY/Northeastern Clinton) added 10 points
Sage returns to action on January 9 travelling to St. Joseph's College for a 5:30 p.m. conference game, while Mount Saint Vincent College is back in action on January 7 for a 7:00 p.m. Skyline game at St. Joseph's College.
