Article copied from Jamestown Post Journal (http://www.post-journal.com/sports/local-sports/2018/02/tied-at-halftime-jayhawks-lose-again/)

Jamestown Community College's men's basketball team has gotten used to playing with a small roster this season, but on Wednesday evening at the Physical Education Complex head coach George Sisson's lineup became even shorter still.

Fielding just seven players to 12 for visiting Niagara County Community College, the Jayhawks were unable to keep pace down the stretch as the Thunder Wolves posted a 100-81 NJCAA Region 3 Division II win after stringing together a series of points off turnovers and buckets at the free throw line in the final two minutes of play.

The loss dropped Jamestown CC to 6-17 overall and 0-10 in the region while Niagara County CC is now 18-9 overall and 7-6 in conference.

Despite freshmen guards Averi Parker and David Williams beings absent from the lineup, the Jayhawks pulled no punches in the first half of play, ending the opening 20 minutes in a 45-45 deadlock.

"The guys were absolutely terrific in the first 20," Sisson said of his depleted roster. "I thought we had good ball movement, we had good spacing, we got the shots that we wanted to."

Carter Davidson's early effort was able to put the hosts up at 9-7 as the sophomore from Mayville was able to hit an open Terrance Cosby at the foul line for a jumper. On the ensuing possession Davidson picked up a steal and then hit an open 3 to give the Jayhawks momentum in the early minutes of play.

"I asked them to keep the math equation of we over me," Sisson said of his team. "We have to figure out how to become efficient offensively. We have to figure out how to play each possession defensively and be as strong as we can. We have to make sure that we're doing what we're supposed to being doing all the time, its not me or I. If there was a 30-minute basketball game this season we'd be in a lot different situation, I think it was about a seven- or eight-point game with two minutes to play."

A return trey from Niagara County CC's Fran Murcia gave the visitors a lead back, which was followed up by a steal and drive from Donel Cathcart. After Cathcart's easy bucket Germaine Wright was able to bang home a shot from beyond the arc to make it 18-16 in favor of the Thunder Wolves. Niagara County CC would maintain their lead with a 3 from Najee Scott and a steal with a slick finish from Daunte Watson to make it 23-16.

The Thunder Wolves would hold a seven-point lead with 8:30 remaining in the opener before Chris Robson was able to hit back-to-back treys for the Jayhawks and Zach Kiadii picked up a pair of makes at the foul line to pull things back to within a pair.

More work from Kiadii, including a steal and two makes in the paint, as well as another 3 by Wright would carry the Jayhawks into halftime. Returning fire for the visitors was Laterrance Reed with a trey and Scott with two buckets down low.

Propelling the Thunder Wolves into a comfortable lead shortly after the beginning of the second half were more 3s from Reed off a screen, Cathcart and Scott, but once again Robson was able to come up big with consecutive long-range makes to pull Jamestown CC within nine.

However, at that stage of the night, with minimal substitutes available, the Jayhawks were clearly fighting an uphill battle.

"I knew that we exerted a lot, you look down (Niagara County CC's roster), they played 12 guys. Did that make a difference down the last two or three minutes? Maybe," Sisson said. "I played a lot of guys 38, 39, 40 minutes. That is asking a lot but I was proud of those seven. Those seven are dealing with more adversity and I can tell you this right now, there weren't many people in this gym when we came out for warmups and saw our seven who gave us a chance to compete. I thought we did that for about 35 or 36 minutes. I thought our seven competed pretty good."

Of those players who were asked to lead the way in minutes, forward Cosby gritted through all 40 on his way to 25 points, 16 rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot.

The Thunder Wolves would end the night scoring 21 points off of turnovers, with many of those coming off defensive pressure laid on in the final minutes with Jamestown CC desperate to move the ball up the court.

Niagara County CC also used its extensive bench to the utmost adding 30 points to go along with their starting five.

Jamestown CC will now host Genesee Community College on Saturday at 3 p.m.

"Hopefully we can come out again on Saturday and give us a chance to compete and be there at the end of the game," Sisson said.

NOTES: Niagara County CC finished 14 of 28 from 3-point range with Cathcart finishing with 20 points and Scott 19. … The Jayhawks finished with 33 rebounds while Reed led the Thunder Wolves with 10 on their way to 42 total. … Robson would finish with 18 points on 5-of-9 shooting from 3 while Wright would add 19 points, three assists and a steal. … Jamestown CC finished the night 29 of 63 on field goals. 

NIAGARA COUNTY CC (100)

Cathcart 9-16 0-0 20, Scott 7-10 2-2 19, Mixson 3-6 0-2 8, Reed 5-7 3-4 16, Luke 3-5 1-2 7, Pollard 0-2 0-0 0, Watson 4-10 0-0 9, Ramsahai 0-2 2-2 2, Murcia 1-1 0-0 3, Evans 3-5 0-0 7, Nodine 3-8 0-0 7, Powell 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 39-75 8-12 100.

JAMESTOWN CC (81)

King 1-8 1-2 3, Howard 2-3 0-0 5, Wright 7-14 0-0 19, Robson 6-13 1-2 18, Cosby 10-15 5-11 25, Kiadii 2-5 4-4 8, Davidson 1-5 0-0 3. Totals 29-63 11-19 81.

Halftime–Niagara County CC 45, Jamestown CC 45. 3-point goals–Niagara County CC 14-28 (Cathcart 2-5, Scott 3-5, Mixson 2-4, Reed 3-5, Watson 1-4, Murcia 1-1, Evans 1-3, Nodine 1-2), Jamestown CC 12-33 (King 0-5, Howard 1-2, Wright 5-10, Robson 5-9, Kiadii 0-2, Davidson 1-5). Total rebounds–Niagara County CC 42 (Reed 10), Jamestown CC 33 (Cosby 16). Assists–Niagara County CC 17 (Reed 5), Jamestown CC 17 (Kiadii 6). Fouls–Niagara County CC 18, Jamestown CC 14.