Desir's late heroics lead Tribunes past Herkimer

ROCHESTER - Sophomore Tashawn Desir broke a 67-all tie with a basket with nine seconds left and then forced a turnover on the ensuing possession to help give Monroe Community College a 71-67 victory over Herkimer County Community College Wednesday evening.

The Tribunes improved to 8-5 with the victory, while the Generals fell to 7-3.

Desir had given MCC a 67-65 lead with a pair of free throws with 1:29 remaining. Herkimer responded the next time down the court by putting the ball down low to Jonathan Feiler, who scored two of his game-high 34 to tie it up with a minute and 20 seconds left.

Monroe worked the shot clock before missing a pair of shots with less than 40 seconds remaining in regulation. But a pair of offensive boards, the last by Davon Jackson, kept possession with the Tribunes.

After an MCC timeout with 15 seconds left, Desir took control and drove to the basket for a right-handed layup and a 69-67 lead. Herkimer then tried to move up the floor, but Desir poked the ball away from Enson Garcia and it was picked up by Marcus Gooding. After a General foul, Gooding knocked down a pair of free throws with 0.9 left on the clock to ice the game.

Gooding came off the bench to score 15 points, hitting a pair of 3-pointers each half. Isaiah Davis also had four 3's and 15 points and pulled down 12 rebounds for the double-double. Jackson hit double figures as well, scoring 11.

Desir finished with eight points, five assists, and four rebounds.