The Mohawk Valley Hawks men's basketball team made history Tuesday evening, defeating North Country Community College 76-59 to secure their 20th victory of the season. The Hawks' 20-0 start breaks the previous best program start of 19-0, a record set in 1999.
In a tightly contested matchup, the Saints pushed the Hawks on both ends of the floor, taking a four-point lead into halftime with strong defense and timely shot-making. However, with nine minutes remaining, Mohawk Valley flipped the script, going on a dominant 19-4 run over the next 4 minutes to take control of the game and seal the victory.
Jamir Smith led the charge with 26 points and 8 assists, while Andre Pasha delivered another outstanding performance, finishing with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Jalen Bradberry stepped up late, knocking down key shots to add 12 points for the green and white. Isaiah Earl, Jashaun Felder, and AJ Burns also played crucial roles, making impact plays on both ends that may not have shown in the box score but were vital in securing the win.
Following the victory, Head Coach Harley Fuller reflected on the significance of the moment:
"We faced a talented and well-coached team tonight, and I was proud of the way our guys responded in moments of adversity. Defensively holding the Saints to 59 points was the key for us, especially as we missed some high-percentage shots early on that we typically make. As I told our guys, they should be proud of making their mark on a program with a rich history of great teams and great coaches by breaking the previous 19-0 record. But they also understand that we have to stay present in the moment, attack each day with focus and hunger, and if we do that, we’ll have opportunities to achieve some very special things."
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MVCC men's basketball sets new program record for best start to season with win over North Country