Colts Take Down 16th-Ranked Monroe 70-69

Rochester, N.Y. - The SUNY Orange Colts men's basketball team withheld a furious comeback attempt by the nationally 16th-ranked Monroe Tribunes Saturday to hang on to a 70-69 win in the opening game of the Monroe Community College Classic.

The Colts improved to 3-0 on the season and handed the Tribunes, now 5-1, their first loss of the season.

Freshman Anthony Pacciarelli (Monroe, NY / St. Joseph Regional) led the Colts with 23 points in his debut, shooting 6-7 from three-point distance. Keishawn Morris (Brooklyn, NY / South Shore) and Darren McFarlane (Bronx, NY / Monsignor Scanlon) contributed 18 and 15 points respectively.

Alan Garcia led the Tribunes with 19 points.

The Colts found themselves down early, trailing 6-2, but answered with a 10-1 run over the next two minutes to take a 12-7 lead. Both teams would trade baskets over the next 10 minutes, until a Marquese Dennis (Brentwood, NY / Brentwood) jumpshot gave the Colts a 20-17 lead with 8:49 remaining in the first half.

A three by Pacciarelli at the end of the half capped off a7-6 run by the Colts, giving them a 35-23 lead at the break.

Four Colts turnovers in the first four minutes of the second half opened the door for the Tribunes to claw their way back into the game, as they cut the deficit to seven. Another three-pointer by Pacciarelli however extended the lead back to double digits.

The Tribunes regained the lead with 8:32 to go on a ayup by Uzziah Grimes but once again Pacciarelli answered with a three-pointer for the Colts.

A jumpshot by Morris gave the Colts a six point lead with one minute remaining. The Tribunes attempted a furious comeback, going on a 6-1 run of their own in a mere 28 seconds, but the Colts held on at the final buzzer.

The Colts return to action tomorrow as they play Erie in the second game of the Monroe Community College Classic. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 pm.