A Quick Look
Sophomore Dylan Trombley (Moriah, NY/Moriah) had a career night in leading the SUNY Oneonta men's basketball team to a 92-71 victory against its rival Red Dragons from Cortland.  Trombley torched the net for 30 points in 31 minutes off the bench.  For the game, he was 10-of-15 overall including 7-of-12 from long range.
 
The win for Oneonta raised its overall record to 15-4 and 11-2 in the SUNYAC.  The victory also clinched a playoff spot for the conference tournament that takes place in the last week of the month.
 
"We beat a very good team tonight," said Head Coach Cameron Conover.  "Our guys played extremely tough and everyone stepped up and did their job.  Andres was exceptional on the boards and I think it ignited us.  Dylan hit some big-time shots that really got the crowd going.  2100 fans in our gym is a site I could get used to.  What an awesome college basketball environment."
 
The Inside Story
Oneonta broke open a relatively close game early in the second half connecting from all zones.  The host Red Dragons shot 52 percent in the second half including 10-of-17 from behind the arc.  Oneonta finished the game with 13 three-pointers while Cortland made only three including none in the second half.
 
Oneonta carried a 43-38 lead into the second half and looked to be pulling away in the early minutes, but a run by Cortland pulled them to within a basket at 53-51 with just over 12 minutes remaining.  Austin Grunder scored nine of his team high 26 points during their push.
 
Back-to-back treys by Trombley got Oneonta rolling again sparking a 12-3 burst that put Oneonta's lead back to double digits with just under eight minutes to go.
 
The visitors had one last run left, but could only get as close as seven points, as Trombley and senior Kevin Mackin (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) hit successive threes on three straight possessions pushing the lead to 79-63 with 3:47 remaining.  Mackin, who was without a point for most of the game, scored all 10 of his points down the stretch.
 
Cortland led for most of the first six minutes of the game before Oneonta tied the game at 11 apiece.  Senior Harrison Deegan (Putnam Valley, NY/Putnam Valley) then scored five points to lead a 7-0 run by Oneonta that gave them their first lead of the game at the 12:04 mark.  Deegan scored 21 points in the game including 14 in the first half to lead the hosts.
 
Cortland kept coming and tied the game again at 22-22 with just over nine minutes remaining in the opening half.  Oneonta countered with seven unanswered points capped with a Trombley trey.  Cortland cut its deficit back to two points before a basket by junior Andres Rivera (Bronx, NY/Walton) and an old fashioned three-point play by Deegan closed out the first half for Oneonta leading by five points.
 
Just the Stats
Oneonta held a slight rebounding advantage of 40-37 but got a career night from Rivera who pulled down 16 boards including six on the offensive end.  Rivera also finished the game with 15 points.
 
Senior Carson Jacobs (Buchanan, NY/Hendrick Hudson) came off the bench to contribute 10 points in 15 minutes.
 
What's Next
Oneonta will play back-to-back SUNYAC contests this weekend at Buffalo State and Fredonia.