Worcester, MA – The SUNY Poly men's basketball team suffered their second consecutive loss, as a last-second basket by Worcester State gave them a 79-77 victory over the Wildcats. LaMarqus Merchant Jr. led the Wildcats with 25 points on 7-of-10 shooting, while the Lancers were paced by Camdyn Shoesmoth, who recorded 26 points and eight rebounds. The Wildcats now stand at 2-4 on the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The Lancers came out strong, building an early lead that grew to 15 points with 12 minutes remaining in the first half. However, a series of consecutive baskets from Cheickne Toure, Anthony Rose, and LaMarqus Merchant Jr. helped the Wildcats claw back, eventually taking a three-point lead with under seven minutes to go in the half. The teams traded points to close out the first half, but a late four-point swing allowed the Wildcats to take a 37-33 lead into halftime.

In the second half, the Wildcats extended their lead to as much as 11 points midway through the final 20 minutes. The Lancers mounted a comeback over the next seven minutes, eventually reclaiming the lead with just under four minutes left in the game. Merchant Jr. hit a pair of free throws, and Rose added a crucial layup to tie the game at 75. After both teams exchanged baskets, the score was tied at 77 with 18 seconds remaining. Worcester State drained most of the clock on their final possession and made a basket with just two seconds left, securing a 79-77 win over the Wildcats.

"We couldn't get stops when we needed to in the last ten minutes," said head coach Rob Schoener. "To win on the road, you have to execute the tough plays, and today we didn't do that."