Despite leading by as much as eight in the first half and holding a lead with as little as 5:30 left in the game, the Columbia-Greene Community College Twins struggled to close out the game and fell to North Country 79-64. Facing a guard-oriented team, freshman big man Kamal Ramos put up a double-double, scoring 19 points down low and grabbing rebounds on both ends of the floor to finish with 13.
Early in the game, the teams were trading baskets, but the Twins pieced together a lead thanks to the efforts of Ramos, high-scoring guard Eli Tillerson, and point guard Mehdi Elyamine. The trio combined for 28 first-half points, as the Twins built a good lead.
After taking a lead, the Twins saw North Country get hot and take the lead back from them. Luckily for C-GCC, they finished the half strong, closing it out on an 8-0 run to go into halftime up 36-32.
Both teams started the second half hot as they traded hoops and the lead. Neither team was able to put together a significant lead until under ten minutes, when Tillerson scored on an offensive rebound and Ramos followed that with a hoop and free throw to give the Twins a 60-55 lead. Again North Country fired back and, with five minutes left, took the lead for good as the Twins struggled to finish a game that they for the most part controlled.
Along with Ramos’s double-double, the Twins were led by Elyamine, who finished with 14 points including 8-8 from the free-throw line. Tillerson finished the game with 15 points and 5 rebounds, while Robert Dunn added 7 points and 6 rebounds.
Despite the loss the Twins have a chance to bounce back with three games in the next week. The Twins will host Dutchess Community College on Thursday and then travel to the Corning Tournament this weekend.
