Ater records collegiate best en route to 76-67 victory over Gallaudet

Sophomore forward Kucjok Ater (Syracuse, N.Y.) recorded a collegiate best 25 points as the Morrisville State College men's basketball team collected a 76-67 victory over visiting Gallaudet University in North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) action Saturday afternoon in Morrisville.



Morrisville State improved to 13-7 overall, and remain untouched in conference play with a 10-0 record. Gallaudet drops to 10-10 overall, 7-4 in NEAC action.



Ater came off the bench to lead all scorers, adding 12 rebounds for the double-double, hitting an astounding 11-of-14 from the floor. Ater also recorded an assist and game high three steals. Mickey Davis (Jamesville, N.Y.) had 17 points and 15 rebounds in the win, while Hodges Sneed (Syracuse, N.Y.) and Kyle Gordon (Riverhead, N.Y.) each added eight. Andrew Lucio (Solvay, N.Y.) and Brandon Hanks (Syracuse, N.Y.) combined for 11 assists.



Four were in double figures for the Bison, led by Brandon McMillan with 17 points. Jocus Houston added 12, while Tony Tatum and Layton Seeber contributed 11 and 10, respectively.



Both teams got off to a slow until the Mustangs posted back to back scores to jump out to a seven point lead with just under 10 minutes remaining in the first en route to a 37-28 advantage at the half.



In the second, Morrisville State increased their lead to as many as 19 with 9:35 to go, but Gallaudet chipped away and cut the lead to just six with 3:04 to go as McMillan drained one from downtown to cut it to 70-64.



After Hanks hit two free throws to regain a nine point advantage for the Mustangs, Houston converted a three point play for Gallaudet with just over 30 seconds to go in the contest, but Morrisville State was able to secure the win, as Lucio hit 3-of-4 from the free throw line.



Morrisville State returns to the court tomorrow, hosting Penn State Harrisburg at 12 p.m. in a battle of conference undefeated's.