Men’s Hoopers Win Thrillers on the Road

Concord, NH ~ After a tough start to the season that saw the Paul Smith's College men's basketball team go 1-7, they are now on a three-game winning streak and have won five of their last eight games.

The Bobcats defeated Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) opponents Great Bay CC 72-69 on Saturday before a quick turnaround and beating NHTI 80-77 on Sunday.  The Bobcats are now 6-3 in the YSCC and solidified fourth place with their weekend road sweep in New Hampshire to boost their prospects of hosting a playoff game next semester.

On Saturday, Talon Brooks (St. Petersburg, FL) and Yashiro Hurst Jr. (Muncy, IN) continued their impressive offensive performances as they both dropped 19 points on the host Herons.  Larenz Miller (Anchorage, AK) and Manny Belcher (Bridgeport, CT) also hit double digits with 13 and 10 points, respectively.  Jack Taylor (Baltimore, MD) had another stellar all-around performance, adding nine points, seven rebounds, six assists, and a steal to pace the Bobcats on both ends of the court.

Sunday's game was equally as exciting as the Bobcats defeated the Lynx 80-77 in a tight battle which saw the visitors from PSC jump out to a 20+ point lead in the middle frames before the hosts came back to within one point late.  Key late fourth-quarter points from Belcher, Hurst, Taylor, and Brooks saw the Bobcats squeak by the winless Lynx in a thriller.

Manny Belcher came off the bench to score a team-high 21 points in 25 minutes of on-court action.  The first year forward has become somewhat of an ace in the hole for head coach Tim Lamay as an invaluable sixth man for the Bobcats, jumping into games and immediately making his presence known.

"Coach Lamay pushes us every day in practice, so when game time comes it feels easier," said Belcher.  "When we buy in to what he is saying and teaching us, execute, and play together, we can be a tough group to beat," added the Connecticut native.

Belcher has the second-highest shooting percentage on the team as he continues to impress with his natural ability to collect rebounds, drive the basket, and make plays.

"All high level basketball teams have players that come off the bench and provide more than just a break for their teammates," said head coach Tim Lamay.  "Being able to have continuity in our intensity and style of play, even when subbing, has been extremely beneficial in our strong start to conference play."

The Bobcats sit at 6-11 overall and pick back up next semester when they'll travel to SUNY ESF on January 8th.

You can follow the men's basketball team on Instagram at @psc_mensbball or follow the general athletics account at @smitty_nation for schedules, scores, highlights, and more!

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At Paul Smith's College, it's about the experience. As the only four-year institution of higher education located in the Adirondack Park in upstate New York, Paul Smith's provides real-world, hands-on learning in fields such as business or and hospitality, culinary management, forestry, environmental sciences, and natural resources. We can draw on industries and resources available in our backyard while preparing students for successful careers anywhere. Our community of resourceful, enterprising, supportive, and adventurous individuals collectively provides experiential education, student support in the classroom and beyond, and meaningful opportunities for our alumni. We pride ourselves on research and advocacy on issues that improve our planet and the lives of the people who inhabit it. Learn more at www.paulsmiths.edu.