Men Hold on to Defeat SUNY Canton, End Three-Game Skid

Jordan Fragale driving the ball in against a pair of defenders.
Nick George

DELHI, N.Y. (January 4, 2020) – The SUNY Delhi men's basketball team returned to the win column on Saturday, defeating SUNY Canton in a low-scoring contest, 58-54. Ahead by as much as 15 points at the beginning of the game, the Broncos held off a late Roos rally with a pair of game-clinching free throws by Justin Daoud in the closing seconds to snap a three-game losing streak and improve to 8-6.

Delhi made just 34.8 percent shooting (24-for-69) and 4-of-20 3-pointers, while Canton fared 31.7 percent (20-for-63) and 7-of-24, respectively. The Broncos jumped out to an 18-3 lead five minutes into the game, though the Roos worked their way back into the game to trim Delhi's lead to 30-25 at the half. Canton scored the first five points of the second half to tie things up at 30-30, but the Broncos refused to relinquish the lead, eventually taking as much as a ten-point lead at 50-40 with 6:37 remaining.

The Broncos' less than stellar 6-of-15 performance from the free throw line opened the door to a late Roos rally, as the visitors took advantage of late missed Delhi free throws to get to within one possession at 56-54 with ten seconds left. A pair of missed shots by Daoud gave Canton the ball again with eight seconds to go, but a miscommunication left the ball loose on the ground in the backcourt that Daoud scooped up and again was sent to the line. He put the game away this time by knocking down both shots with four ticks to play.

Daoud's final two points thrusted him to a team-best 11 points, along with five rebounds, while Payton Dean logged his third double-double of the season with ten points and 14 rebounds. Jordan Fragale netted ten points, as Glenn Butler earned nine points, six rebounds, and a game-best five assists. Mavenson Therneus recorded seven points with nine boards, three assists and three steals, while Darius Hines collected seven points and three boards. Jared Beach recorded four points with five rebounds.

The Broncos held a narrow 50-49 edge in rebounds, and cashed in 18 Roos turnovers for a 21-6 lead in points off turnovers. Delhi had 18 offensive rebounds to Canton's 16, and held an 11-9 lead in second-chance points. Both sides finished tied, 26-26, in points in the paint and 11-11 in bench points.

Daoud is now nine points away from reaching 1,000 career points, sitting currently at 991 points. Dean moved closer to the milestone with 928 points, as did Fragale with 897 points.

Saturday's win ended a three-game losing streak for head coach Zack Thomsen's team after defeats to RPI, Utica, and Hartwick. The Broncos look to keep it going as they begin a busy stretch, playing five games in nine days. It begins Monday when they travel to take on Northern Vermont Johnson at 5:00 p.m., followed by Northern Vermont Lyndon Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. Delhi returns home to play Morrisville State Thursday, Jan. 9 at 3:00 p.m., Maine Fort Kent Saturday, Jan. 11 at 2:00 p.m., and Pine Manor Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 5:00 p.m.