The Morrisville State College men’s basketball team opened the 2012-13 season campaign Friday night, handing Medgar Evers a convincing 87-59 defeat in the first round of the Max Zeil Tip-Off Tournament held at SUNY Oswego.
Kucjok Ater (Syracuse, N.Y.) paced the Mustangs with 22 points on the night, adding five rebounds and three steals, while two additional teammates posted double figures. Jailaan Kinsey (Syracuse, N.Y.) registered 16 in his debut with Morrisville State, hitting 7-of-9 from the floor, as Rhamel Williams (Bronx, N.Y.) added 10, grabbing six rebounds.
Steven Thompson (Syracuse, N.Y.) controlled the boards for the Mustangs, grabbing a team high seven, as he added six points and five blocks in the non-conference win.
Medgar Evers had a team high performance of 18 points from Javon Deare, who collected 10 points alone on 11 attempts from the free throw line. Winston Douglas netted a double-double, posting 12 points and 10 boards while adding five steals.
Morrisville State jumped out to a 46-34 lead at the break behind a 58.1 percent shooting performance from the floor that continued into the second half, while Medgar Evers struggled hitting a mere 31.1 percent from the floor in the contest.
Douglas posted the first bucket of the contest to give Medgar Evers the 2-0 short lived lead before Morrisville State’s offense came alive to take a seven point advantage just five minutes in. De’Vaughn Estwick hit a three to bring Medgar Evers to within three with 6:44 to go in the first half, but the Mustangs went on a 19-10 run to close out the period and hold a 12 point advantage at halftime.
In the second, Medgar Evers shot just 26.9 percent from the floor and struggled to stop Morrisville State’s offensive attack, as the Mustangs raced out to as many as a 29 point lead for the win.
Morrisville State returns to the court tomorrow to play for the tournament championship against the winner of the D’Youville/Oswego match-up. Tomorrow’s championship contest is scheduled for a 6 p.m. tip.