CSM MEN SWEEP THREE FOES AT SAN JOSE TIPOFF
College of San Mateo’s men’s basketball team swept all three games at the San Jose City College Tipoff Classic over the weekend, starting with a pair of cliffhangers.
College of San Mateo's men's basketball team swept all three games at the San Jose City College Tipoff Classic over the weekend, starting with a pair of cliffhangers.
The Bulldogs, ranked No. 16 in the state preseason poll, came back to defeat Feather River College, 75-71, in Thursday's opener. They edged Merced, 112-109, in three overtimes on Friday; then finished with an easier 76-57 triumph over Lassen on Saturday.
Against Feather River, Justin Milch drained a 3-pointer with 21 seconds left to put the Bulldogs ahead, 73-71. Feather River failed to counter and then fouled, accounting for the final points.
In the Merced game, the Bulldogs trailed, 88-85, through the final minute of regulation before Shakur Blaylock drained a long 3-pointer from atop the key with one second remaining to knot the count. In the extra period, Malik Merchant's corner three made it 93-all with 57 seconds left and sent it to another OT. Merchant drove for a lay-up with 13 seconds remaining in the second overtime to create a 101-101 tie, necessitating another 5-minute period. CSM wasted little time taking the advantage in the third OT. Blaylock sank an uncontested three and followed up with a steal and lay-up. A driving jumper by Milch made it 108-101 with 2:50 remaining. Merced, however, battled back and stayed in contention until the end, closing to 112-109 with six seconds left, then creating a turnover and missing a long desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Alex Martin led four Bulldog scorers in double figures for the opening weekend with a 17.0 average, followed by Tim Netane (13.0), Merchant (11.3), and Milch (11.0).
--CSM's home opener at College Heights is on Saturday (Nov. 12), vs. San Jose CC, at 3 p.m.