The SUNY Oneonta men's basketball erased a double-digit deficit late, but came up short against Salisbury University, 65-61, in the championship game of the Tournament of Heroes hosted by the College of Staten Island. 
 
The Red Dragons trailed 49-36 with 10:47 remaining in the contest before putting together a late run where they tied the game at 61 with 1:52 left on the clock.  An old fashioned three-point play by junior Anthony Kirkwood brought Oneonta (6-4) back even.  Kirkwood scored all 10 of his points in the second half coming off the bench today including a pair from behind the arc.
 
Oneonta wasn't able to convert on its three possessions down the stretch while Salisbury (7-3) made its four free throws.  The Sea Gulls had four players in double figures in the game led by Chad Barcikowski who scored a game high 20 points.
 
Oneonta began heating up, specifically from long range, making four of its six three-pointers during its final run.  Sophomore Carson Jacobs (Buchanan/Hendrick Hudson) scored all eight of his points during the run including a pair of threes.  Classmate Kevin Mackin (Nanuet/Nanuet), who led the Red Dragons with 15 points in the game, scored six points down the stretch.
 
Mackin gave Oneonta its only lead of the game at 3-2 in the first minute of the game.  Salisbury gained control of the contest with an 11-2 run to grab a 13-5 lead midway through the opening half.  The Gulls continued to build its lead to as many as 13 points with just over one minute to go before the Red Dragons closed with a 7-2 spurt to get within eight points heading into halftime.
 
The men will be at home next weekend when they resume SUNYAC play against rival SUNY Cortland and Oswego.  Oneonta will face Cortland on Friday night beginning at 7:30pm then host Oswego on Saturday afternoon beginning at 3pm.