Emira, N.Y. – The SUNY Poly men's basketball team earned a dominant 105-84 victory over the Elmira College Soaring Eagles. Six Wildcats scored in double figures, with Anthony Rose leading the charge with 24 points. Lamarqus Merchant Jr. delivered a standout performance, recording a triple-double with 14 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds. With the win, the Wildcats improved to 16-8 on the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
SUNY Poly wasted no time in asserting control, with Kamryn Comstock getting the scoring started with an early layup and Anthony Rose adding a fastbreak three-pointer and a layup. Elmira's Aaron Lane and Riley Spencer kept the game competitive, each scoring efficiently inside, but Poly's balanced offense kept the pressure on. William Scanlon contributed with a jumper and a three-pointer, helping the Wildcats extend their lead.
Despite efforts from Elmira's Chris Woodard and Kelton Brown, SUNY Poly responded with a dominant run fueled by aggressive defense and steals from Rose and Merchant Jr. By halftime, the Wildcats held a commanding lead, bolstered by fastbreak points from Rose and a clutch three-pointer from Da'marr Miller. Elmira struggled to find rhythm as Poly's defense stifled their offense and the Wildcats capitalized with smooth ball movement and sharp shooting.
In the second half, SUNY Poly maintained their dominance, quickly building on their lead. Elmira showed signs of life with a series of threes from Spencer, but they could not close the gap. While both teams experienced turnovers and missed shots, the Wildcats' offense stayed efficient. Elijah Smith and Comstock continued to score inside, with Comstock adding a dunk for good measure.
Chris Woodard fought on for Elmira, contributing with rebounds and points in the paint, but the gap continued to widen. The Wildcats sealed the victory with more fastbreak points from Comstock and a late three-pointer from Luke Lowry. A few free throws and solid plays in the final moments ensured SUNY Poly finished strong, securing the 105-84 win.
"I'm proud of how the guys responded today," said head coach Rob Schoener. "We got great minutes and contributions from every single guy on the roster. Those are the most fun games. Six guys in double figures—we really shared the ball and made plays today."
