Eusey's Seven Three-Pointers Not Enough to Win on the Road
December 21, 2006
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - SUNY College at Old Westbury men's basketball team lost hold of a first half lead as host Nazareth College staged a dramatic second-half comeback Thursday as the Golden Flyers outscored the Panthers, 50-33, in the final 20 minutes for a 91-82 non-conference win.
The Panthers (3-3 Overall, 2-1 Skyline) led 49-41 at halftime as junior guard Kenneth Eusey (Brooklyn, NY) and junior guard Ian Johnson (Jamaica, NY) each scored 12 points. Eusey went on to make seven of 13 three-point shots to finish with a game-high 21 points to go along with 6 assists and six rebounds. Johnson finished with 13 points, 6 assists, six rebounds and three steals. Freshman center Joshua Frazier (Westbury, NY) pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds, scored 6 points and had one steal and one block on the night.
The Golden Flyers (4-2 Overall) fell behind by as many as 10 points in the first half and were down 13, 60-47, with less than 15 minutes to play in the game before rallying. Freshman guard Corey McAdam helped spearhead the comeback as he posted 18 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds and six steals. Five other Golden Flyers also finished in double figures in scoring.
Nazareth embarked on a 33-13 scoring run over a 12-minute stretch that ended with the Golden Flyers on top 80-73 with 3:20 to play. McAdam was at it again, scoring nine of his points during the run and junior Joe Canori scored seven of his team-high 20 points.
After McAdam's free throw with 3:20 left put Nazareth ahead 80-73, Old Westbury's Kenneth Eusey hit his seventh three-pointer of the game to draw the Panthers back within four, 80-76, with 3:10 left. Nazareth stayed ahead as freshman Rayvon Higdon and junior Tyler Smith each made two free throws and junior Leon Hill scored off an offensive rebound in the closing minute.
In addition to the scoring of Canori and McAdam, Nazareth got a career-best 16 points and four steals from Higdon. Sophomore center Jeff DeHimer had 13 points and nine rebounds and Smith and Hill each finished with 12 points. Canori's career point total now stands at 983.
Sophomore forward Garthlette James (White Plains, NY)made his season debut and scored 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting in addition to 2 assists, two rebounds and one block.
The Panthers received some help in the front-court as senior center Dan Kane (Oyster Bay, NY) scored 10 points, grabbed 4 rebounds and one block shot. Junior forward Divine Jackson (Hempstead, NY) came off the bench and contributed with 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting.
Old Westbury returns to action Dec. 29-30 at the New York University Christmas Tournament. The Panthers play 23rd ranked New York University on Friday at 8 p.m. Baruch College hosts Clark University (MA) in the second game at 8. The third place game will be at 2 p.m. and the championship is slated for a 4 p.m. tip-off. For more information about the Old Westbury Panthers, log onto http://www.oldwestburypanthers.com/, to follow your favorite sports and events.