Tough First Half Costs Spartans

Cayuga Community College Men's Basketball couldn't overcome a challenging first half in an away loss to Tompkins Cortland Community College on Wednesday.

Second-half scoring runs by the Spartans brought the margin to single digits, but Cayuga couldn't erase the Panthers' 17-point halftime advantage, losing 93-82. The Panthers also won the teams' previous contest earlier this season at Spartan Hall.

Tompkins Cortland held a slim three-point lead early in the contest before a lengthy Panthers run put them up more than 20 for much of the first half. Hunter Martin was Cayuga's primary scorer in the first half, leading the team with 15 points on four-of-seven shooting from three-point range.

Trailing 48-31 entering the second half, Cayuga started the frame on a 14-2 run powered by guards Donald Grant and Desean Strachan to cut the lead to five. The Panthers rebuilt a double-digit lead before a pair of free throws from Cayuga's Tony Borges cut the lead to nine. The Spartans didn't pull closer, though, and the Panthers rebuilt their advantage in the rest of the second half.

Martin finished with a game-high 32 points to go with seven rebounds. Strachan and Grant added 15 and 12 points, respectively, while Borges grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds. Ryan Adams also collected 11 rebounds for the Spartans.

Cayuga's next contest is home on Saturday, January 20, against Onondaga Community College. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.