Syracuse, NY - The Panthers fell to fellow USCAA school, SUNY ESF Wednesday night. The Panthers were looking to try and start of the new year with a win, unfortunately turnovers were a big factor to the loss.
The Panthers came back to campus and were eager to start getting back into competition mode. You could tell that tthis team wanted to be back on the floor, even if they were going to have limited options. The ball went up for tip-off and the Panthers were back in action. Although they were back in action, the first half showed some signs of rust. The Panthers were only able to shoot 1-9 from long range, and 9-34 overall in the first half. The Panthers fell behind early because of these percentages, and the Mighty Oaks took a double digit first half lead, 36-23. The score, and low shooting doesn't mean the Panthers had a terrible half however.
Brett Richards (Kinderhook, NY) almost dropped a double-double in the first half grabbing 9 rebounds and scoring 9 points. The Panthers also saw a strong first half from
Abe Pogue (Oradell, NJ) who scored 9 points with Richards and grabbed 6 rebounds himself.
The second half, the Panthers were trying to get themselves back in the game, but SUNY ESF kept up their hot shooting. The Mighty Oaks shot almost fifty percent from the field in the second half to make sure there was not a Panthers comeback. Although the Panthers tried to make a comeback, shooting fifty two percent from the field and forty four percent from long range. They were hot, but the Mighty Oaks just never let up, making sure they also capitalized on every turnover the Panthers made. The second half saw a lot of Panthers having a strong half.
Nathan Lynes (Miami, FL) had a strong half dropping 11 points, being one of four Panthers in double figures. Richards added 13 points, and grabbed 10 more rebounds bringing his totals to 22 points and 19 rebounds. His 19 rebounds tie Richards for 3rd all time on the single rebounds in a game list. Pogue was the second Panther with a double-double grabbing a total of 12 rebounds and scoring 10 points. Finally,
Edgard Matias (Kissimmee, FL) was the 3rd and final Panther with a double-double grabbing 10 rebounds and scoring 11 points.
Although the Panthers looked strong in the second half, the Mighty Oaks never let them back in it, and really made the Panthers pay for the 22 turnovers. After the game, coach Coleman said "After the horn buzzed, and we were getting ready to do the handshake line, I looked at the other coach's and said 'were two guys away. Those two guys just happen to be hurt and on the bench.' These games would be 10 point wins instead of 20 point losses."
The Panthers try and look for their first win of 2023 when they Pennsylvania to take on Williamson College of the Trades on 1/14 @ 1PM.
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