NORTH ADAMS, Ma. (December 31, 2018) – The SUNY Delhi men's basketball team closed out 2018 on a high note Monday, racing out to a large lead early on MCLA and never looking back to defeat the Trailblazers by an 86-62 score. The victory closed out Delhi's two-day stay at the MCLA Tournament, and put the Broncos back in the win column at 6-8 following three consecutive defeats.
Though it would be MCLA that tallied the first six points of the contest, the Broncos countered with a 14-3 run that put them ahead for good. Delhi built on its lead throughout the first half, and got it to as much as a 17-point gap at halftime, ahead 38-21. Payton Dean locked up his fourth double-double of the year in the opening half alone with 12 points and ten rebounds. He would finish the contest with a game-best 23 points and 13 rebounds, along with a pair of blocks.
The Broncos kept up the pace in the second half, fending off an early Trailblazers bump that cut the lead to 13 by going up by as much as 38 points near game's end. Delhi limited MCLA's possessions in the closing half with the help of a 24-13 advantage in rebounds, including 20-7 in defensive boards. Their presence down low proved to be a major tipping point, as Delhi finished the day with a 51-43 lead on the glass and 50-8 in points in the paint.
The men made 48.5 percent from the floor (33-for-68) and 5-of-13 from long range to the Trailblazer's 31.2 percent (24-for-77) and 7-of-25, respectively. The Broncos were also successful getting to the free throw line, taking full advantage with a 15-for-20 showing, compared to the hosts' 7-for-14.
Jordan Fragale posted his second 20-point game of the year with 21 points, while dishing out eight assists and grabbing six rebounds. One day after dropping five threes in Delhi's opening tournament contest versus Norwich, William Knight followed up by making 4-of-8 3-pointers for 18 points. Norman Wilson collected eight points with nine rebounds.
Head coach Zack Thomsen's squad rings in the New Year back at home, opening a three-game homestand on Thursday, Jan. 3 against Penn College at 4:00 p.m.
