ONEONTA DEFEATS MEN'S BASKETBALL

(Aurora, N.Y.)─ Despite 17 points from Dave Foltz (Auburn, N.Y./Auburn) the Wells College men's basketball team fell 75-65 to the Oneonta State Red Dragons in game two of the Washington & Lee Holiday Tournament Sunday afternoon in Lexington, Va. The Express will take on Methodist University in the consolation game of the tournament tomorrow at 4 p.m. in Lexington. The loss drops the Express to 3-7 on the season, while the Red Dragons improve to 2-6.
 
The Express had four players in double-figures including Terry Harrison (Brooklyn, N.Y./Forest Hills) with 13 points and nine rebounds, Mabior Mayen (Syracuse, N.Y./Nottingham) with 13 points and seven rebounds, and Mac Porter (Oswego, N.Y./Oswego) with 11 points and four rebounds.
 
The Red Dragons were led by Derek Hahn (Youngsville, N.Y. / Sullivan West) who was nearly perfect on the afternoon, hitting on 10-11 shots and three of four from the free-throw line for a game high 23 points. Troy Talbot (Brooklyn, N.Y. / The School for Legal Studies) added 20 points while Shane Gillette (Hurley, N.Y. / Kingston) chipped in with 12 points to round out the scoring for Oneonta.
 
Both teams shot 50 percent from the floor but the Express would shoot just 50 percent from the charity stripe including 5 of 16 in the second half. It was the first game for both teams in over three weeks and it showed as the two teams combined for 39 turnovers.  
 
The Express controlled the majority of the first half, jumping out to a 5-0 lead early as each team traded shots over the first 12 minutes. Cameron Boyden (Vestal, N.Y./ Vestal) gave the Red Dragons their first lead of the game at 12:20, draining a jumper while being fouled and then hitting the free-throw for the unconventional three-point play and a 23-22 lead. A three-pointer by Porter and scores by Mayen and Harrison put the Express back on top 30-28 with five minutes to play in the half. The two teams continued to trade buckets over the final minutes, playing to a 37-37 deadlock heading into halftime.
 
Wells took a four point lead early in the second half but seven turnovers in the first five minutes by the Express allowed the Red Dragons to take a 47-44 lead at 15:09. The Express continued to struggle; going 5:39 without a field goal as Oneonta built a 55-45 lead with 12:01 to play. The Red Dragons were on cruise control from there, opening up a 14 point lead.
 
With less than five minutes remaining the Express started to gain momentum, going on a 9-0 run to trim the lead to five (70-65) with 2:44 to play. Despite the late run, the Express were unable to complete the comeback as Oneonta hit five late free-throws to seal the victory.