Slow start dooms Monroe in loss to Herkimer

ROCHESTER - The MCC men's basketball team could not shake off some early shooting woes in a 65-56 loss to Herkimer College on Monagan Court Saturday afternoon.

The Tribunes (8-6) shot just 27 percent in the first half and trailed 34-19 at the break. Herkimer pushed the lead to more than 20 in the second half before MCC's second group cut the lead back to single digits. But Monroe simply ran out of time as the Generals came away with the win.

Both teams were ice cold out of the gate. Monroe and Herkimer combined to miss their first 10 field goals before the Generals finally scored three and a half minutes into the game. MCC didn't get on the board until the 14:28 mark on a layup from Kewan Platt.

Herkimer started to take control toward the end of the half. A dunk by Monroe's Malik Colvin-Seldon brought the Tribunes to within three with 5:28 left, but the Generals responded with a 17-5 run down the stretch to take a 15-point lead into the break.

Herkimer led by as many as 23 in the second half and still led 65-45 with 2:44 remaining. The Tribunes then rattled off the game's final 11 points before running out of time.

Platt, George Graham, and Mahammad Kajakhe all scored nine to lead Monroe. Omar Williams chipped in with eight.