SPRINGFIELD, MA - After a break, the Oneonta men's basketball team returned to the court at the Naismith Classic hosted by Springfield College on Wednesday afternoon, falling 76-58 to Connecticut College. The Red Dragons fall to 3-4 overall, while the Camels move to 9-2.
"Tonight we looked like we hadn't played in nearly four weeks," said head coach Cameron Conover. "Connecticut College was clearly the better today. The good news is we have an opportunity to play another good opponent tomorrow."
Connecticut took a 10-5 lead following a three-pointer from Garrett Clar at 15:01. Junior Nicholas Cortez (Harlem, NY/Forest Hills) cut the lead to three after an inside jumper, but the Camels used a 6-0 run to go ahead 16-7. Elias Espinosa converted three free throws to give Connecticut College a double-digit lead. A basket from junior Ibrahim Wally (Brooklyn, NY/East NY Family Academy) and free throws from junior Hobson Herlihy (Lawrence, KS/Lawrence) brought the score to 19-13. Connecticut's James LaFrance knocked down back-to-back triples to extend the lead to 12 points. Cortez and junior Sam Booth (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) converted baskets to keep the game within ten points, but Quron Zene gave the Camels a 38-14 lead at 1:16. Juniot Nate Cohen (Somers, NY/Somers) scored a final jumper before halftime to make it 38-26 at the break.
The Connecticut lead continued to grow in the second half, and Clar hit a three-pointer to push the Camels ahead 44-26. Cortez spurred a 5-0 Oneonta run to cut the lead to 46-33 at 14:59. Oneonta attempted to chip away at the lead, and scores from Herlihy and Cohen made it 59-45. Freshman Connor Mannix (Wantagh, NY/St. Anthony's) scored inside at 8:09, and senior Shea Barber (Wells Bridge, NY/Unatego) converted free throws to make it 60-49. The Red Dragons would never pull within single digits, and Connecticut led by as much as 19 points to hang on for the win.
Cortez led the team with 12 points, while Cohen added 11 points and eight rebounds. Booth scored seven points, and Wally recorded a career-high eight points.
Watson led the Camels with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks. PJ Johnson Jr. scored 13 points, and LaFrance had 12.
Oneonta concludes the Naismith Classic on Thur. Jan. 1 at 12 p.m. against Colby.
