SUFFOLK COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Amiel Thomas, MarcelleBryant &Alvin Dennis
Step Up for Injured Marcelle Street

OT Win Gives Suffolk CC No. 43

By Gregg Sarra
NEWSDAY STAFF WRITER
February 13, 2004

Aaron Cummings collapsed in a chair and pulled off his sweat-soaked jersey. Exhaustion had finally swept over him. When he looked around him, he saw the rest of his Suffolk CC- Selden teammates felt the same way - very tired.

"We're drained, mentally and physically," he said last night after Suffolk came back from a 10-point deficit to win in overtime for the second time in three nights and extend its winning streak to 43 games, best in the nation. "The streak has been a mental strain and the schedule has been grueling. We've had three games a week for three straight weeks and the guys are banged up."

Cummings rose from the chair and pounded his chest. "But right now, it's about heart," he said. "And it's about not letting the streak end. It's been too much fun. I've never been a part of anything like this in my life - none of us has."

Suffolk CC battled through the fatigue and a six-point second-half deficit to come away with a thrilling 85-81 OT victory over Hostos CC in a Region XV game at Caimans Gymnasium in the South Bronx.

Maurice Manning scored seven points in overtime, hitting three free throws in the final nine seconds to seal the win, and finished with a game-high 30 points plus 11 rebounds. Suffolk is 25-0 overall, 15-0 in Region XV.

"There's no practice [today] so guys can rest," said Cummings, who had 10 assists and inched closer to the school's career record for assists. "This win was about everyone pulling together. With Marcele [Street] injured, Amiel [Thomas], Alvin [Dennis] and Marcell [Bryant] did a great job picking it up."

Hostos CC (18-8), in only its second year of men's basketball, gave the Clippers all they could handle. Hostos hit three straight three-pointers, including two from guard Walter Flowers, to extend a 27-26 lead to 36-26 with 3:53 left in the first half.

Suffolk coach Rich Wrase called a timeout to allow his Clippers the chance to regroup and keep Hostos from taking over the game. The 9-0 run ended when Manning nailed a rim-rattling three-pointer. The Clippers finished the half on a 16-4 run and forged a 42-40 lead on a layup by Vernon Alonzo (20 points) just before time expired.

In the second half, Manning hit a jumper to give Suffolk a 51-45 lead before Hostos went on a 19-7 run to take a 64-58 lead with 7:23 left in the game. The key to the Hostos spurt was 6-8 center Marvin Lynch, who converted putbacks on three straight possessions. Point guard Donald Hennie (18 points) hit two driving layups and a three-pointer.

"They had some big dudes and we had to adjust," Manning said. "I'm not folding for no one out there."

Dennis hit a driving hook over Lynch and Cummings hit two free throws for a 71-68 lead with 26 seconds left. "I put some real crazy English on that one," Dennis laughed. "No, it was - some Swahili. It was sweet."

Hostos guard Malik Haney banked in a three-pointer with 16 seconds left to tie the score at 71. Suffolk then worked the ball around the perimeter. Manning shook himself loose and took a pass from Cummings in three-point range. His shot rimmed out, forcing the overtime.

"I wanted that one," Manning said.

He more than made up for it in overtime.

INSIDE VICTORY NO. 43
2003-04 RECORD: 25-0

MINUS: SCC-Selden center Marcele Street left early in the first half with a leg injury and did not return. He had 12 points and three rebounds.
PLUS: SCC-Selden backup center Marcell Bryant converted a rebound for a basket and blocked two shots on Hostos CC's next possession.

SCC-SELDEN 85
HOSTOS CC 81
Copyright © 2004, Newsday, Inc. 

 
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