The Cayuga Community College Men's Basketball Team recently dropped a close game to Davis College. The team enters the midseason break with a record of 4-5. Photo courtesy of the Cayuga Collegian.
The Cayuga Community College Men's Basketball Team recently dropped a close game to Davis College. The team enters the midseason break with a record of 4-5. Photo courtesy of the Cayuga Collegian.

Spartans Drop Close Game To Davis

The Cayuga Community College Men's Basketball Team suffered a pair of loses in recent action, dropping a close contest against Davis College and falling to Mohawk Valley Community College.

In their final two games before the midseason break, Cayuga fell 87-80 to Davis on Dec. 4 and 98-69 to Mohawk Valley on Dec. 8. The losses drop the Spartans' record to 4-5 entering conference play in January.

"Those were both tough games. We're still working on our defense, but 87 and 98 points is too much to give up," said Spartans Coach Tony Borges. "Our effort is great, but we've got to improve defensively and get a few more shots to fall."

Cayuga entered the contest against Davis winners of their last two games, and carried a 41-35 lead at the half. The Spartans' defense faltered in the second half, though, allowing 52 points as the Falcons ended up with the win.

Borges said the game felt like a missed opportunity to keep their momentum going after wins over Columbia-Greene and Clinton.

"This was a game I think we probably should have won. We scored 80 points and rebounded well, and really played a strong game in the first half," said Borges. "In the second half, things didn't come together defensively, and we had too many turnovers the whole game."

Messiah Brown led the Spartans with 28 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals. Sequan Hicks finished the game with 16 points and Stanley Beato added 12 points.

Against Mohawk Valley, the Spartans handled the Hawks' press and cut down on their turnovers, but Cayuga struggled shooting from the field.

"In the first 10 minutes, we were attacking the basket and had a bunch of great looks from all over the floor, but the ball just wouldn't go in the basket. We've got some guys who can score, but it was just one of those days where nothing was falling," said Borges.

Brown again led the Spartans with 18 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals, with Hicks adding 16 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists. Beato scored 11 points and Javon Coleman added 10.

The Spartans don't play again until a Jan. 8 game at Genesee Community College.