HERKIMER – The FM men's basketball team won their season opener on Saturday and lost on Sunday in the Philly Classic Tournament hosted by Herkimer County Community College.

The Lions of the Redemption Christian Academy (RCA) were the Raiders' opponents on Saturday. The Raiders outplayed the Lions in the first half and led 46-31 at the break. They also outscored the team from Massachusetts in the second half and won the game 83-61.

Photos, from left:  Ayodele Akinmola, Jordan Stewart, and Kyle Giddings were scoring leaders

Head Coach Ed Collar's Raiders used a balanced attack against RCA. Twelve different Raiders scored points, and five FM men tallied eight points or more. Senior Kyle Giddings led the scoring with a dozen points, and freshman Ayodele Akinmola was right behind him with 11 points.

FM Scoring vs. RCA:  Jordan Stewart 7, Ayodele Akinmola 11, Shaleek Randolph 4, Courtney Darnley 8, Barceem Dukes 6, Kyle Giddings 12, Marquis Edwards 5, Raheem Small 6, Jonathan Brioso 5, Tremaine Elder 9, Tyrone Davis 8, Kwa-Shawn Jackson 2; Total 83

The Raiders met a very strong squad from Monroe Community College on Sunday.   The Tribunes took a 45-33 lead at the half and won the contest 93-69.

Again the FM squad had balanced scoring. Ayodele Akinmola was the high scorer with 14. Jordan Stewart added 13 points to FM's total.

FM Scoring vs. Monroe:  Akinmola 14, Stewart 13, Randolph 9, Darnley 4, Dukes 2, Giddings 2, Edwards 4, Small 7, Brioso 6, Davis 5, Young 2, Jackson 1; Total 69.

Coming Games

The Raiders will play their first home games this coming weekend.  FM will welcome Tompkins Cortland CC to the Raiders Den on Saturday and SUNY Broome on Sunday. The scheduled start time is 3:00 p.m. for both games.

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