Spartans Lose 2025 Opener

A tough second half cost Cayuga Community College Men's Basketball in their first contest of 2025 on Saturday.

The Spartans trailed Tompkins Cortland Community College by just four points at halftime but were unable to stay with the Panthers in the second frame, losing 81-53. Cayuga is now 2-9 on the season.

Both teams' offenses started slow, with Cayuga holding the Panthers to just three points in the first six minutes of play. Tompkins Cortland held a single-digit lead for much of the first half before an and-one by Cayuga's Desean Strachan knotted the score at 20 with less than seven minutes to play. Strachan sank a three-pointer later to give the Spartans a brief lead before the Panthers closed the first half on an 11-4 run to lead 34-30 at the break.

The second half was controlled by the Panthers, who raced out on a 16-0 run before Cayuga's Tony Borges made a pair of free throws. The Spartans were unable to pull closer to the Panthers for the remainder of the half.

Borges, Strachan and Marcus Pasha all finished in double figures for the Spartans. Strachan led Cayuga with 13 points and added three assists and three rebounds, and Borges had 11 points and seven rebounds. Pasha finished with a double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Amaree Samuel finished with nine points, sinking three three-pointers.

The Spartans host two games next weekend, against Clinton Community College on Saturday, Jan. 18, and against North Country Community College on Sunday, Jan. 19. The game against Clinton CC starts at 2 p.m.