Men’s Basketball Team Rallies from Double-Digits Late in Second Half for Comeback Win

The Genesee Community College men's basketball team trailed by as much as 10 points in the tail end of the second half, but went on a 13-2 run to retake the lead with four minutes left. Both teams were tied with 78 seconds at 65 apiece, but clutch free-throw shooting proved to be the difference in giving the Cougars a 71-66 win against visiting Niagara County Community College Feb. 17.

A pair of Cougars decided the game in the final 30 seconds. The second of Jordan Smart's free throws put Genesee up 67-65 and ended up being the deciding score, but Caylen Williams added another four charity-strip scores with the first pair coming with 13 seconds and the insurance free throws with just four seconds to seal the win.

Niagara built as much as a four-point lead in the first half at 20-16 with six minutes left before Genesee rallied late in the first with a 14-6 run to close out the first half with a 30-26 lead.

Current National Junior College Athletic Association Men's Basketball D-II Player of the Week Brian Fobbs led the team in points with 31 and rebounds with 11 in recording yet another double-double performance. His 1,191 points moved him to No. 7 all-time among GCC scorers by passing Melvin Council (2001-2003) and now Fobbs needs just 21 more to leapfrog into sole possession of fifth place on the career scoring list.

Although the starting guard has a nation-leading 27 points-per-game, he has averaged 32 during February and he also continues to lead the nation in rebounds-per-game with 13.5.

Jarett Haines and Rahmel Thompson each added 13 points, but Haines also recorded tam-highs in assists with six and steals with four. Thompson was second on the team in rebounds with five despite only playing 26 minutes.

The Cougars close out their regular season home schedule against conference-leading Monroe Feb. 21 with a 7:30 p.m. tipoff. The Tribunes are also nationally-ranked at No. 9.