ROCHESTER – With a battle in the second half, the Jamestown Community College men's basketball team comeback effort falls short against No. 8 SUNY Sullivan County Community College, 84-80 Saturday afternoon.
The Jayhawks (7-7) were led by Jordan Thomas who recorded another double-double on the day, scoring 25 points while grabbing 11 rebounds (2 offense, 9 defense) Kane Kenyon had a career day, scoring 15 points including three baskets from beyond the arc. Donathan Daniels added 14 points on the day.
Knowing that they were playing one of the top teams in the country, Jamestown came out swinging, going up 5-0 in the first minute of action thanks to a three-pointer from Daniels and a Kenyon layup. Darius Lee got the Generals on the board, converting his and-one opportunity.
JCC maintained the lead for the first seven minutes of the game before Sullivan got their first lead thanks to a Jalen Reneau layup to put the Generals up 17-16 with 13:09 to go in the first half. The Generals grew their lead to four before Markus Coleman knocked down a three-pointer to cut the deficit to one, making it 20-19.
The teams traded baskets in the next few possessions before Sullivan regained the lead and went on a 6-0 run to lead the game 28-22 with 7:37 in the first half. Sullivan retained their lead over the next four minutes with the Jayhawks nipping at their heels. The Generals did get their biggest lead of the first half after a Reneau layup put Sullivan up 45-36.
With a minute to go in the half, Jamestown erased a nine-point deficit and closed out the half on a 7-2 run that included a jumper form Isaac Butler III, a three-pointer from Thomas and two free throws from Jake Hougan.
The Jayhawks came out in the second half on fire with Kenyon hitting another three-pointer to pull back within one point. The teams did not give up any ground in the early going of the second half as neither team gained a sizeable lead. Thomas got the Jayhawks back in the game, hitting his shit from beyond the arc to tie to game up a 58-58 with 13 minutes to go in regulation.
Jamestown got the lead back off a layup form Kenyon to go up 60-59 with 11:57. This was the Jayhawks first lead since the 10:05 mark in the first half. JCC kept working, increasing their lead to five points as Thomas hit both of this free throw attmepts.
Sullivan did not go away quietly, as they went on a 6-0 run to retake the momentum. JCC did not let that discourage them as they retook the lead on the ensuing possession.
The Generals took the lead for the final time as Lee make a basket to put Sullivan up 73-72 with 6:11 to go in regulation. The Jayhawks did tie the game at 73-73 but Sullivan scored five straight points to take the lead for good.
Trailing by two in the final seconds, Jamestown was force to foul to have a chance at the upset. Reneau as put to the line but knocked down both of his free throw attempts to put Sullivan up 84-80 for good.
The teams shot very similar on the floor with Jamestown going 26-for-55 (47.3 percent) while Sullivan going 35-for-75 (46.7 percent) from the floor. The Jayhawks did find their groove from beyond the arc, going 9-for-22 (40.9 percent) while the Generals went a measly 1-for-17 (5.9 percent) from three.
The Jayhawks will be back in action this Wednesday as they take on Erie Community College in conference action. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Physical Education Complex.