A cold closing three minutes cost the Panthers men's basketball a chance for a win Saturday, as they lost at home for this first time this season, 75-74 to Fulton-Montgomery Community College. Tompkins Cortland drops to 8-6 on the season while Fulton-Montgomery improves to 7-3.

The Panthers took an early lead in the first half, but the Raiders fought back to head to the locker room ahead 41-35. The Panthers erased the deficit quickly, and more the second half was back and forth with the lead changing sides eight times. A four-point play by Malachi Brown (Philadelphia, Pa./Central H.S.) gave the Panthers a 72-69 lead with 3:01 left to go, but the home team could hold on, making just 1-of-6 from the floor and 1-of-6 from the free throw line over the final three minutes.

Marqiis Samuels (Long Island/The Patrick School) led all scorers with 21 points along with 7 assists and 5 rebounds. Kobe Nwosu (Spring Valley/North Rockland H.S.) had 14 points and 6 rebounds, Brown had 11 points, and Israel Guerrido (Bronx/James Monroe H.S.) had 10 points. Sheldon Schuler (New Haven, Conn./Lee Academy Prep) had a team-best 8 rebounds along with 8 points.

Looking ahead

The Panthers jump back into Mid-State Athletic Conference play Wednesday at Corning Community College.