Herkimer College Edges Sandhills in Thriller, Advances to NJCAA DIII Semifinal

Herkimer College Edges Sandhills in Thriller, Advances to NJCAA DIII Semifinal

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The Herkimer Generals Men's Basketball team pulled off a dramatic comeback to defeat Sandhills Community College, 75-72, in the NJCAA Division III Quarterfinals on Thursday afternoon. The fifth-seeded Generals erased a five-point halftime deficit and leaned on clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch to secure their spot in the semifinals.
 
Second-Half Surge Propels Generals
Herkimer (25-4) found itself trailing 41-36 at halftime after Sandhills (27-7) shot 54.5% from the field in the opening 20 minutes. However, the Generals tightened up defensively in the second half, holding the fourth-seeded Flyers to just 26.9% shooting from the field.
 
Sophomore Jayson McGhee (New Rochelle, NY) led the way for Herkimer, pouring in a game-high 28 points on 9-of-20 shooting, including a perfect 9-of-9 from the free-throw line. Sophomore Oladele Oladitan (Staten Island, NY) provided a strong inside presence, finishing with 23 points and five rebounds, while freshman Kenny Freeman (Rochester, NY) anchored the defense with a dominant 13-rebound performance.
 
Despite struggling from three-point range (4-of-21, 19.0%), the Generals made up for it at the free-throw line, converting 23-of-30 attempts (76.7%), including crucial makes in the final minutes.
 
Defense Seals the Win
Herkimer's defense proved to be the difference in the second half, forcing 16 Sandhills turnovers and converting them into 16 points. The Generals also held Sandhills to just 3-of-15 shooting from beyond the arc. With the game on the line in the closing moments, Herkimer forced a crucial turnover and hit key free throws to complete the comeback victory.
 
Next Up: Semifinal Showdown with Richland
With the win, Herkimer advances to the NJCAA Division III Semifinals, where they will face No. 8 seed Dallas College-Richland tomorrow at 5:00 PM. The Generals will look to continue their strong defensive play as they seek a spot in the national championship game.