Box Score 11/13/21
 
SANBORN, NY – The Lackawanna College Men's Basketball team had a shot to win before the buzzer, but the off-balance three from Ahmir Ellzy bounced high off the rim, and the Kats from Erie Community College escaped with a wild 84-82 win over the Falcons on Saturday night at the Niagara County Tip-Off Classic.
 
The Falcons (1-1) initially jumped out in front of Erie, thanks to some solid defense and good shooting from distance, but the Kats (4-1) stormed back with some high-pressure defense, and jumped out as far as ten points when it was 33-23 with 4:06 to go in the first half. The Falcons would answer back, going on a 14-5 run to close the half and get within one point at the break, at 38-37.
 
The Falcons would jump out in front at 46-41 just three-and-a-half minutes into the second half, before Erie rallied and took the lead at 54-53. The teams would trade the lead and never get ahead by more than two or three points, but the Kats eventually pulled ahead at the 5:30 mark, leading 74-66.
 
Lackawanna College would dig deep and come back again, this time to a 76-75 deficit with 2:20 to play. After a missed three, Erie pushed the pace into the front court, but a Gabe Springer block at the rim sprung the Falcons on the break, and ended in an Ahmir Ellzy lay-up that made it 77-76 Lackawanna College with 2:04 to go.
 
After Erie answered on a baseline drive to reclaim the lead, Will Johnson fizzed a one-handed laser of a pass to Gabe Springer cutting on the baseline, who promptly laid the ball in and gave the Falcons a 79-78 lead with 90 seconds to play.
 
Erie would draw a foul in the backcourt and sink the two free throws to make it 80-79, then, after a missed corner three from Lackawanna College, the Kats drew another foul on the floor, but hit only one-of-two free throws. Lackawanna College would turn the ball over on an entry pass in the lane, which Erie turned into a two-handed dunk on the other end, giving them a four-point lead with 20 seconds remaining.
 
After another Falcon turnover and foul, the Kats were on the line to put things beyond reach, but missed both free throw attempts, leaving the door slightly ajar, and allowing Ellzy to drain an off-balance, contested three from the right wing with under six seconds to play, cutting the lead to 83-82. After a foul and one-for-two free throw trip, the Falcons got the ball into the front court to set up an inbounds to Ellzy for the win, but his second-straight off-balance three couldn't find the net, giving the Kats the win.
 
Lackawanna College had four players in double-figures and shot 44% from the field, including 50% in the second half. Daryl Coleman and David Pope each had a team-high 16 points, with Coleman sinking four triples and Pope doing his damage off the bench. Springer finished with 14 points and a game-high 19 rebounds, to go with his four blocks. Springer was six-for-seven from the field. Ellzy finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, but was three-for-eight from beyond the arc. Will Johnson had just four points on two-for-ten shooting, but had a game-high seven assists for the Falcons.
 
Lackawanna College had 20 turnovers, which Erie turned into 35 points, and the Falcons shot 12-for-31 from three-point land, and just four-for-twelve in the second half. The Falcons outrebounded the Kats 48-36, and had eight blocks in the contest, which saw six ties and 13 different lead changes.
 
Lackawanna College gets right back at it on Sunday afternoon when they play the host Niagara County CC. The game is set for a 3:00pm ET tip-off. You can watch the game HERE.