DELHI, N.Y. (January 11, 2019) – A big second half earned the SUNY Delhi men's basketball team their season-best fourth straight win Friday afternoon, defeating Maine Fort Kent, 76-54. The Broncos are back over .500 for the first time since Dec. 2 at 9-8 to close out a perfect three-game home stand, while remaining unbeaten in 2019. The win also marked Delhi's first-ever victory over the Bengals, having come up short in six tries over the previous three seasons.
Head coach Zack Thomsen's team took a slim 30-28 lead into halftime, but it was the closing half where Delhi found its form. They took over the flow of the game in the latter period thanks in part to leading on the boards by a 25-14 margin, including an astounding 13-3 offensive advantage, and forced the Bengals into ten of their 20 turnovers on their way to 46 second-half points. Ahead by one at 39-38 with 15:34 to go, the Broncos began pulling away thanks to a 25-6 run over the next nine minutes to bump their lead to the 20-point mark at 64-44, and stretching it to as much as 25 points by game's end. The men finished the day with a 24-6 lead in points off turnovers and 19-13 in second-chance points.
Jordan Fragale led the Broncos with 18 points and nine assists, making 6-of-10 in the second half for 12 of his points. William Knight made both of this threes in the second half as he totaled 12 points with five assists, while Carlos Ithier dropped two of his three triples in the second to finish with 11 points and four rebounds. Payton Dean had seven points and nine rebounds in the closing period, including five offensive, as he finished with nine points and 12 rebounds. Freshman Jared Beach made his presence known in the second, where he collected all of his seven points and five rebounds, including three offensive boards and one 3-pointer. Norman Wilson collected nine points, and finished tied with Jacob Beach for a game-high three steals. Saquan Goland garnered six points and five rebounds.
Delhi made 40.5 percent from the floor (30-for-74) and 9-of-31 threes, while Maine Fort Kent fared 32.1 percent (18-for-56) and 4-of-21, respectively. The Broncos shot 7-for-12 from the free throw line, while the Bengals converted on 14-of-17. The men also held leads in points in the paint, 32-24, and in bench points, 17-8.
The Broncos have the weekend to enjoy their latest string of victories, but are back to work with a three-game set next week. They will take their four-game winning streak on the road for two games, starting with Wilson on Wednesday, Jan. 16 at 6:00 p.m., and then ACAA-foe Pratt on Saturday, Jan. 19 at 4:30 p.m. Delhi will then return home on Sunday, Jan. 20 to face Alfred State in an ACAA contest at 4:00 p.m.