Gators fall to SJFC in final minutes, 79-76

Gators fall to SJFC in final minutes, 79-76

Albany, NY—The Sage Colleges' men's basketball team hosted the Cardinals of St. John Fisher College on Saturday afternoon in the final game of the 2017-2018 season. After playing to a 39-39 tie at the half, St. John Fisher College came up with the late-game run to beat Sage, 79-76. With the win, St. John Fisher improves to 15-10 overall and 10-6 in the Empire 8, while Sage wraps their season with a 11-14 overall record with a 6-10 league showing.

Sage led by five points, 76-71 with 2:50 left to play before the Cardinals mounted the late game rally and held Sage scoreless down the stretch.  Graduate performer Michael D'Amico (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon) hit a pair of free throws at 2:14 to cut Sage's lead to three points.  Sophomore guard Dennis Hare (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) added two free throws at 1:33, cutting the Gators' lead to just one, 76-75. Junior forward Ryan Henderson (Cazenovia, NY/Cazenovia) added a jumper at 0:50 to give the Cardinals a 77-76 lead and with 16 seconds left Henderson buried a three-pointer to seal the SJFC win, 79-76. For the game, Henderson added 20 points with a 9-12 effort from the floor.

Sophomore guard Sammy Robinson (Cedarhurst, NY/Lawrence) added a double-double on 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Hare finished with 11 points and five rebounds with two assists. D'Amico added 10 points with three assists and a pair of three-pointers.

Sage's senior guard Jordan DeVaughn (Jacksonville, FL/Flora McDonald Academy) and sophomore Isaiah Scurry (Albany, NY/Albany) both collected 19 points each for Sage. Devaughn added five three-pointers, while Scurry collected three baskets from downtown. Senior Wayne Weir (Bronx, NY/Samuel Gompers) collected 14 points with seven rebounds and four assists.

Sage's junior center Kevin Lenehan (Delanson, NY/Duanesburg) added a team-best nine rebounds with five points and two blocks before fouling out of the game. Senior captain Barceem Dukes (Gloversville, NY/Gloversville) added eight points with seven rebounds in the action.

Saturday's game marked the final career appearance for Sage's four seniors including Stephen Paulk (West Palm Beach, FL/Palm Beach Lakes).

Devaughn finishes with 484 career points in his 44 games played, while adding 83 three-pointers. Dukes added 255 career rebounds with 23 blocks and 367 points in his 49 games played. Weir added 418 points in his 49 games played with 62 steals, 75 assists and 81 three pointers. Paulk started four games in 32 appearances with 105 points in his career.