JOHNSTOWN – The Clinton Community College Cougars came down from New York's far north on Thursday evening and gave the Raiders a challenge that saw the score tied at the end of regulation time. FM was the better team in the final five minutes and won the game 100-94.
The Raiders needed a win to lift their spirits. They had won six games in a row in November and December but then dropped five consecutive hard-fought decisions until Thursday's clash with the Cougars.
Photo: Kadeem Riddick's basket gave FM a 10-point lead early in the second half
FM's Tyrone Davis scored the game's first points with a three-pointer from the left-center of the arc. Davis then sent a quick inbounds pass to Barceem Dukes, who put FM up 5-2.
Both teams were running hard and playing on even terms. Marquis Edwards fed Jonathan Brioso, and Brioso kept FM in front at12-11.
The home team started to build a lead. John Sumpter took Jordan Stewart's pass and scored. 17-11 FM. Courtney Darnley sank a three from the left side, but the Cougars countered with a three. Darnley hit another trey, and FM led 23-19.
Photo: Courtney Darnley puts FM up 23-19
The Raiders were scoring and so were the Big Cats. Late in the first half, Stewart sank a three from the right side, giving FM an eight-point lead, but Clinton countered again. Raiders Shaleek Randolph and Kyle Giddings scored, but the Cougars roared back. Clinton's Terrell Ward-Johnson sank a three. Cesar Castro intercepted an FM pass and scored. The first half ended with FM in front by just two points, at 45-43.
FMCC's Randolph opened the second half with a three from the right. Tyrone Davis took an inbounds pass from Randolph, and the agile sophomore gave FM a 50-43 lead.
Soon Riddick added a three-pointer and Dondre Davis sank two from the foul line. Randolph drove for two. Riddick added a two. Sumpter intercepted a Cougar pass and scored. FM led 63-51 and seemed to own the momentum. (See photo at the bottom of this web page.) But Clinton was not done.
The visitors charged back, and FM's offense sputtered. Clinton went ahead 72-67. FM's Stewart scored a three from the left corner to keep things close, but an FM offensive foul and a technical foul let Clinton take an 80-72 lead. The Raiders had to play catchup.
With less than five minutes left, Randolph sank two FT's and FM trailed by three. As the four-minute mark passed, Giddings made a nice underhanded putback. Clinton led 81-80.
Photo: Tyrone Davis gives FM a 50-43 lead
The clock showed 1:50 when Randolph passed to Edwards, and Edwards drained a three from the right corner, tying the game at 86-86. FM took the lead when Tyrone Davis put the ball in play under his own basket, passing to Dondre Davis who sank a jumper. FM led 88-86 and tried to win at that point, but Clinton's Michael Payne scored with 5.1 seconds left, sending the game into overtime.
The extra period began. Clinton intercepted an FM pass, but current Raider of the Month Edwards stole the ball and sprinted home for a layup. 90-88 FM. Clinton scored, but Dondre Davis re-took the lead with a free throw. Giddings added three FT's in less than a minute, and FM led 94-90.
Clinton scored again, but FM's Randolph drove for a big two-pointer. 96-92. Both teams tightened their defense. Edwards was fouled, and he sank both free throws. 98-92. Clinton tallied another two, but Randolph went to the line with 3.1 seconds on the clock. He sank both shots, and FM won the thriller 100-94.
Head Coach Ed Collar used 13 players in the game and 12 of them scored. Shaleek Randolph was high man with 18 points. Marquis Edwards scored 12, including a huge trey late in regulation and four points in overtime.
FM upped their season mark to 8-7 (3-4 conference). Clinton dropped to 4-9 (1-5).
The Raiders will play again on Saturday when they travel to Hudson Valley CC. The Vikings lost at Mohawk Valley on Thursday evening, making their record 9-6 (3-4 conference). The 3:00 p.m. Saturday tilt should be a good one.
Scoring:
Clinton: Lamboy 0-1-1, Colon 4-0-12, Castro 9-6-24, Payne 6-9-21, Ward-Johnson 8-3-27, Manor 4-1-9; Totals 31-20-94
FMCC: Stewart 1-3-0-9, Riddick 4-0-9, Randolph 6-4-18, Darnley 3-0-9, Dukes 1-0-2, Giddings 3-3-9, Sumpter 3-0-6, D. Davis 2-4-8, Edwards 4-2-12, Small 1-3-5. Brioso 2-2-6, T. Davis 3-0-7; Totals 35-18-100
Three-point goals: Clinton 12 (Colon 4, Ward-Johnson 8); FMCC 10 (Stewart, Riddick, Randolph 2, Darnley 3, Edwards 2, T. Davis)
Halftime: FM 45 – Clinton 43
Regulation: 88-88
Photo: Shaleek Randolph takes Tyrone Davis' pass and scores, giving FM a 65-58 lead
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