Syracuse, NY - Men's Basketball went head to head with the Panthers of Tompkins-Cortland in Allyn Hall on Wednesday evening. Onondaga took a 99-92 victory over the Panthers in overtime, moving to 4-1 on the season and 2-0 in conference.

Shombe Jackson (Richmond, VA/Thomas Dale HS) , Malachi Wilson (Brooklyn, NY/Thomas Jefferson HS), Nyqwan Morris (Brooklyn, NY/Thomas Jefferson HS), Garang Garang (Syracuse, NY/Bishop Grimes HS), and Brian Whitley (Geneva, NY/Geneva HS) kicked it off as the Lazers' starting five.

Onondaga's The Panthers took the opening tip and scored the first points of the game, but a Garang bucket three minutes in would give the Lazers a lead to which the Panthers would tie but never overtake for the entire duration of the game. Nyqwan Morris drained back to back threes putting the Lazers up 12-8. Rochester Freshman, Percy Robinson hit a timely three after the Panthers cut it to two midway through the half, putting the Lazers back up 5. Another Robinson three immediately followed by a steal and bucket on the inbounds pass from Weedsport Sophomore, Lucio Cole, put the Lazers up 17 with a minutes left. A freethrow from Whitley made the lead at half an even 18 for OCC.

Wilson started the second half driving to the hoop giving the Lazers their largest lead of the game, 56-36, before the Panthers went on a 10-0 run and eventually cutting it to just 5 with five minutes to go in the half. OCC was in the bonus at 6:06, staying ahead by their trips to the line, finishing 74.1%. Malachi Wilson sunk a pair of critical threes to put the Lazers back up 12 with just under four minutes. The Panthers continued to chip away, cutting it to 2 on a rebound and put back with 1:20 remaining. The Lazers regained possession after a shot clock violation with 50 seconds to go. But a Panthers stop allowed for an 89-89 tie game with 9.1 remaining. The Lazers had the final possession in regulation out of a timeout, resulting in a team control foul called on Garang going up for the final shot. The 89-89 score after one last half-court heave for the Panthers sent the game into overtime.

Morris put the Lazers ahead from the freethrow line, 91-91. The Panthers tied it back up on a rebound and put back. OCC continued to draw fouls and get sent to the line, going 7-8 in overtime. Defensive stops for the Lazers and a Shombe Jackson three with 1:15 remaining put OCC ahead at the buzzer, 99-92.

Garang Garang led all scorers with 22 points. Brian Whitley recorded his second season double-double with 19 points and 15 rebounds. Nyqwan Morris dropped 15 and Malachi Wilson, Lucio Cole, and Noah Bwalya each had 10.
 
The men are on the road this weekend with games versus Clinton Community College on Saturday, November 15th and North Country on Sunday, November 16th.

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