Lakers Fall in MSAC Finals 82-75

CORNING, NY -- The Finger Lakes Men's Basketball team fell to Corning Community College on Saturday in the Mid-State Athletic Conference Championship game by the score of 82-75. The Lakers are now 22-5 on the season and will enter next weekend's Region III Championship with an 18-5 regional record.

The Red Barons of Corning came out early, defending their home floor. They took an early 5-0 lead over the Lakers. Finger Lakes would respond however. The Lakers would answer with a 7-0 run of their own to take an early lead. The Finger Lakes offense was paced early by Brandon Bullock. The sophomore went 4-4 from the field, including three three pointers. The game would remain close for most of the first half. The Lakers tied the game at 30-30 with just under five minutes left in the half. Corning could close the opening frame however on a 10-0 run and carried a 40-30 lead into halftime.

Bullock scored 11 points in the opening half. Kievonn Banks added eight points and six rebounds for Finger Lakes.

The second half played much like the first half. The Red Barons maintained a double-digit lead for most of the opening minutes of the half. Rahiem Robinson made a jumper with nine minutes left to play in the game. Corning responded with back-to-back three pointers to widen their margin back out. Finger Lakes made a run to narrow the margin. Brandon Bullock made a three and followed that with a pair of free throws with four minutes left to make it 68-61 Corning. Off of a timeout with two minutes left, Kievonn Banks forced a steal and Torry Wright made a follow-up tap-in to make it a six point game, 74-68. Corning made a three the next possession to push their lead back out and went on to the 82-75 victory.

Brandon Bullock led the Lakers with 27 points. In Bullock's four career Mid-State Athletic Conference Tournament games, he averaged 27.5 points per game. Kievonn Banks gave the Lakers 15 points and eight rebounds off of the bench. Torry Wright was also in double figures with 12 points.

Finger Lakes will be competing in the Region III Championship next weekend, starting on Friday. The pairings for the tournament hosted at Finger Lakes Community College will be announced later this weekend.