DELHI, N.Y. (December 17, 2021) – The final 13 minutes of the SUNY Delhi men's basketball's team's Friday night matchup versus Bryant & Stratton Syracuse showed the kind of program the Broncos are capable of entering a competitive new year. Ahead by just three at 65-62, Delhi got moving with a 10-2 run that festered into a high-scoring final stretch for a 99-87 victory, improving to 8-4 overall to close out 2021.
Friday's non-conference meeting also saw three 20-point performances for the Broncos in Norman Wilson, Lester McCarthy, and Isiah Barnes, including career highs for the junior Wilson and first-year player Barnes. Freshman McCarthy, who earned his third 20-point game through his first dozen games at Delhi, was one point shy of his best scoring output of 27 from Sage earlier this month.
The Broncos' seven opening-half threes kept them close to the Bobcats, as their modest 36.6 field goal percentage in the first 20 (15-of-41) was countered with Bryant & Stratton's strong inside game that produced a 51.4 percentage (19-of-37) to lead 43-41 at halftime. SUNY Delhi made the proper adjustments at the break to take control of the second half. Both sides were gridlocked in the opening minutes of the latter half until Isiah Barnes' and-one jumper put the Broncos ahead to stay at 57-56 with under 15 minutes to go. Bryant & Stratton remained tight, drawing back to within one possession a handful of times before a string of threes tilted the game to Delhi.
Up 67-64, Norman Wilson hit a 3-pointer, one of his five on the night, followed by Pablo Quinones' triple on the ensuing possession, one of his two in a six-point display, to improve their lead three-fold. Lester McCarthy stole the ball on the next Bobcats' possession, catching Isiah Barnes for a fastbreak scoring play, then when Bryant & Stratton got on the board to make it 75-66, McCarthy took matters into his own hands with one of his career-best eight 3-pointers to go up by 12. All told, the Broncos, who led by as little as 62-60 with just over 13 minutes to go, came within four points of their first-half scoring total in that final stretch alone.
Wilson and McCarthy tied for the game high with 26 points, while each grabbing six rebounds. Wilson, who shot 8-of-18 and 5-of-12 on threes, also had four assists and McCarthy three after faring 9-of-17 including 8-of-16 attempts from long distance. Barnes' scoring abilities inside the arc gave him 22 points, making 9-of-16, while just missing out on a double-double with nine assists. Mavenson Therneus dropped in 13 points and pulling in a team-best eight boards.
Head coach Zack Thomsen's team has a well-deserved winter break, returning Jan. 4 for a road meeting at Morrisville State. They jump back into NAC play that ensuing weekend, hosting Maine Maritime Jan. 8 and Thomas Jan. 9.
