Red Dragons Escape With 51-50 Win

NEW PALTZ, NY — Jon Rother’s (Sodus Point, NY) two free throws with 1:19 left in the game proved to be the difference as Cortland escaped Elting Gym with a victory Tuesday night over New Paltz.

Senior guard Ben Davey (Andover, NJ) had a chance to win the game with under three seconds to go but his jumper wouldn’t fall. The Hawks got a second crack at a game- winner with under a second left but ran out of time.

New Paltz took a 23-6 lead in the first half only to see it vanish before halftime. The Red Dragons went on a 20-0 run before the break and took a 30-25 lead into halftime. Their lead got as high as 10 at the 12:42 mark of the second half on a basket by Justin Powers (Remsen, NY) before the Hawks battled back to take the lead 50-49 with 2:49 left on a layup by Matt Daudier (S. Floral Park, NY). From there, Rother’s free throws gave the Red Dragons their final margin of victory.

Joe Bell (Albany, NY) led all scorers with 11 points. Steve Esposito (Fairport, NY) was the lone Red Dragon in double figures with 10.

The Hawks are back in action Friday when they host Oneonta at 8:00 p.m.