Men's Basketball Completes Comeback Win; Coach Long Earns #500

Men's basketball defeated Rockland 103 to 93 on November 16, 2019.
November 16, 2019

CONTACT: Adam Sopris, a.sopris@hvcc.edu, 518-629-7898 or 518-416-2137
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Saturday, November 16, 2019 

The Hudson Valley men's basketball team needed the extra period to close out their 103-93 win over Rockland on Saturday afternoon in the McDonough Sports Complex on the campus of Hudson Valley Community College. The historic comeback win gave Coach Mike Long his 500th career victory. 

The game appeared it was going to be a decisive win for the Vikings as they outscored Rockland 21-5 in the first six minutes of the game. Rockland did not give up and fought their way back as they entered halftime trailing Hudson Valley 45-44. 

In the second half, Rockland outscored Hudson Valley 33-17 and led by as many as 15 points with eight minutes left in the game. The Vikings continued to chip away their deficit as they outscored Rockland 26-11 in the final eight minutes to force overtime. 

With 31 second remaining in the second half, Rockland had what appeared to be the final possession. As the Vikings decided not to foul immediately to preserve the clock, Rockland attacked the rim, missed a contested layup and gave the Vikings a final fast break push for the go-ahead dunk by Brandon McKenly (Brooklyn/Leadership & Public Service). McKenly finished the game with 18 points and 18 rebounds to go with a game-high seven blocks. 

Leading by one, Shamar Moore-Hough (Wheatley Heights/Half Hollows Hill East) fouled Rockland with five seconds remaining and gave them an opportunity to win the game with two foul shots. Trystin Williams converted on one of two and the game went into the extra overtime period. Moore-Hough finished the game with a team-high 25 points. 

In overtime, the Vikings found their form and outscored Rockland 15-5 and held them to just one field goal. Dominique Threatt (Waterford/Bishop Maginn) led the Vikings with six points in overtime with a three-point field goal and three made free throws to help secure the victory. Threatt played important minutes at the end of the second half and the entire overtime period as the Vikings had two guards foul out of the game in the second half. 

The Vikings are back in action tomorrow, Sunday, Nov. 17 when they travel to face Schenectady at 1 p.m.