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Posted: Oct 31, 2019

Cayuga Men's Basketball Ready to Compete for Conference Title

Cayuga Men's Basketball Ready to Compete for Conference Title

With two of their leading scorers returning this season, the Cayuga Community College Men's Basketball Team has its sights set on the Mid-State Athletic Conference title.

The Spartans are coming off an 8-14 season in 2018-19, but feature a promising group of freshmen and returning guards Stanley Beato and Joseph McCoy for the coming season. Beato and McCoy finished second and third in scoring on the 2018-19 team, with 17 and 15 points per game, respectively.

Coach Tony Borges said the Spartans have their eyes on the same goal they do each season: a conference title and earning a spot in the national tournament.

He knows there's important steps to reaching that goal — improved defense and rebounding, and replacing last season leading scorer Messiah Brown's 23 points per game — but he thinks he has the roster to push for an MSAC crown.

"Stanley and Joe are strong players and leaders, and our freshmen are really bringing the energy and effort each day to practice. We've got strong guards, good size, and a roster that's hungry to improve each day," said Borges.

While Cayuga featured a strong offense that scored 80 points per game in 2018-2019, the Spartans are looking to improve a defense that averaged allowing 86 points per game. Borges said a greater emphasis on transition defense and rebounding should help.

"Rebounding is about toughness, and that's one of the things we've focused on in the preseason. Boxing out and putting in the effort to secure the boards. I think we should be improved in that area this year," he said.

The team opened with strong showings in exhibitions against Bryant & Stratton and SUNY ESF, winning both contests. The Spartans start the season with five straight home games, and don't play a road contest until Nov. 22 at North Country Community College.

Cayuga opens the regular season with 3 p.m. home contests against Hudson Valley Community College on Saturday, Nov. 2, and against SUNY Adirondack on Sunday, Nov. 3. Both games are at Spartan Hall.