Men's 2006-07 Basketball Recaps

(Scroll down for recaps of each game)

Panthers complete dramatic turnaround with NIC crown

ACP 79, North Country CC 62

Saturday, February 17

Riding the familiar formula of a dominant front line and the long-range shooting of sophomore Bryan Jones, ACP beat North Country Community College 79-62 in the Northern Independence Conference championship game at Clinton Community College. The win capped the Panthers' dramatic second-semester turnaround with the team's first conference title since 1986.

ACP's starting front line of 6-foot-7 center Zach Bratek, 6-6 forward John Adamchick and 6-4 forward Ramy Ramzy combined for 47 points. Adamchick led ACP (15-10) with 18 points, Bratek had 15 and Ramzy contributed 14. Meanwhile, Jones tossed in 16 from his shooting guard position, including a pair of 3-point baskets.

The victory was the 13th in 14 games for ACP, an exhilirating string that began after two losses at the Bahama House Classic in Florida in early January and included the men's program's first-ever victories over NCAA Division III opponents.

Together with the women's NIC title later in the day and the men's and women's NIC soccer championships last fall, ACP became the first team in conference history to sweep all four titles in the same academic year.

The top-seeded Panthers are the first No. 1 seed to win the championship in NIC history.

In Friday night's semifinals, six players scored in double figures as ACP coasted into the title game with a 94-64 win over No. 4 Word of Life Bible Institute.

Jones and Bratek led the offensive output with 15 points apiece, including Jones' five 3-pointers. Graig Reed had 13 points, including three 3-pointers, and Adamchick, Ramzy and Dennis Samuel each scored 10.

Clinton CC 77, ACP 63

Monday, February 12

All good things come to an end, as the ACP men's basketball team found out against Northern Independence Conference rival Clinton Community College. Clinton defeated ACP 77-63 in the Albert M. White Gymnasium, ending the Panthers' 11-game winning streak.

"We just didn't come out with the intensity in the first half that we needed," said coach Craig Tynan. " Clinton took advantage and built up a good lead. I was happy that we fought back and made a nice run but we didn't have enough in the tank."

John Adamchick led the Panthers (13-10 overall, 3-2 NIC) with 17 and Bryan Jones added 14. Clinton 's Phillip Barnes led all scorers with 28 points, including an acrobatic dunk on an offensive rebound to all but seal the game for the Cougars.

Despite the loss, the Panthers are the No. 1 seed in the upcoming NIC tournament this weekend at Clinton. ACP will face No. 4 Word of Life at 8:00 p.m. Friday while No. 2 Clinton plays No. 3 North Country Community College at 6:00 p.m. The championship game will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, also at Clinton.

ACP 79, New Hampshire Tech 77 OT

Sunday, February 11

It wasn't easy, but the ACP men's basketball team defeated New Hampshire Technical Institute on the road 79-77 in overtime to extend its winning streak to 11 games.

Freshman Zach Bratek hit two free throws with only seconds remaining to give the Panthers (13-9) the lead, and the defense held the hosts the last possession to come away with the victory.

Bratek, a 6-foot-7 center, played his best game as a Panther, finishing with career highs in points (26) and rebounds (13). In one of the most impressive stat lines of the season, point guard Vartan Balian dished out 11 assists without committing a single turnover while playing the entire 45 minutes.

John Adamchick teamed with Bratek to help the Panthers dominate inside. Adamchick, a 6-6 forward, had 21 points and nine rebounds. Shooting guard Bryan Jones also finished one rebound short of a double-double, with 11 points and nine rebounds.

Despite shooting only 35 percent for the game and 54 percent from the foul line, the Panthers still managed to win their 13 th game of the season, thereby clinching a winning season for the first time since the 1995-96 season.

ACP 75, North Country CC 54

Tuesday, February 6

Zach Bratek scored a season-high 22 points and John Adamchick had 16 as ACP took advantage of its inside strength to run its winning streak to double figures with an important 75-54 Northern Independence Conference road win over North Country Community College.

 

Bryan Jones added 12 points and Vartan Balian had 11 as the Panthers (12-9 overall, 4-1 NIC) won their 10th consecutive game and avenged a 12-point home loss to North Country on November 28.

With a win at home against Clinton Community College next Tuesday, ACP will lock up home-court advantage for the NIC tournament February 16-17.

 

Al Miller scored 19 points to lead North Country (14-8).

ACP 70, Green Mountain College 46

Sunday, February 4

ACP raced to a 21-2 lead and never looked back to beat its second Division III opponent of the season - and in school history - with a 70-46 victory at Green Mountain College. It was the Panthers' ninth victory in a row.

John Adamchick, the team's leading scorer on the season, again led the Panthers (11-9) with 16 points. Zach Bratek and Vartan Balian both finished in double figures for ACP, Bratek with 14 and Balian with 13.

ACP earned its first win ever against a Division III opponent at Keuka College on January 28. 

ACP 75, Paul Smith's College 56

Thursday, February 1

Another game, another victory for ACP, which simply cannot lose a game.

This time the opponent was former Northern Independence Conference rival Paul Smith's College and the final score was 75-56 in the Albert M. White Gymnasium, the Panthers' eighth consecutive victory. Paul Smith's defeated ACP three times last season.

Bryan Jones led ACP with 22 points, including six 3-point baskets, while John Adamchick was not far behind with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

ACP (10-9) jumped out to an early 23-7 lead. After the Bobcats pulled within 10, ACP scored the game's next 10 points as Jones hit another buzzer beater, this time at the end of the first half to push the lead to 41-21 at halftime as the crowd erupted. The Panthers slowly built their lead, which eventually reached 32 points with under three minutes to play.

"We're really playing well at the right time of the year," coach Craig Tynan said. "We have a legitimate chance to bring home the conference championship, something that we have not done since I've been here."

It's been 20 years since the men's basketball team has won a conference championship of any kind.

ACP 104, WOLBI 80

Tuesday, January 30

Another game, another victory for red-hot ACP.

All 13 members of the team made it into the scoring column as the Panthers streaked to a 104-80 victory over Northern Independence Conference opponent Word of Life Bible Institute. With their seventh victory in a row, the Panthers are at the .500 mark.

John Adamchick again led the Panthers (9-9 overall, 3-1 NIC) with 20 points. Zach Bratek scored 16 points while Vartan Balian and Bryan Jones, the hero from the Keuka College game just two days earlier, each had 13 points.

"We didn't come out with as much emotion as we should have, we were up 10 points at halftime," said coach Craig Tynan. "WOLBI hit some tough shots but we didn't play as strong defensively as we need to in order to be successful. We were able to wear them down with our depth in the second half."

Josh Filler scored a game-high 25 points for WOLBI.

ACP 79, Keuka College 78

Sunday, January 28

Credit Bryan Jones with one of the biggest baskets in the long history of ACP men's basketball.

Jones, a sophomore, drilled a 3-pointer as time expired (relive the moment in video!) to give ACP a stunning 79-78 road victory at Keuka College (box score), the first win over a Division III opponent in school history.

The Panthers (8-9) rallied from an 18-point deficit with under 12 minutes to play to win their sixth straight game. Keuka beat ACP by 45 in Albany last season.

Tied 76-76 with nine seconds to play, Vartan Balian brought the ball up the length of the court and found Jones coming off a double screen. With ice in his veins, Jones nailed the 3-pointer as time expired to send the ACP bench into a frenzy.

"The team played with great composure and energy in those last two minutes," said coach Craig Tynan. "They executed the last play just like we drew it up. They deserve all the credit and watching them celebrate the win was tremendous."

John Adamchick led the Panthers with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Jones had 17 points while Balian had 11 points and six assists.

"I think we still have yet to play our best game," said Tynan.

ACP 76, St. Joseph's College (N.Y.) 74

Saturday, January 27

Zach Bratek scored off a lob pass from Dennis Samuel with nine seconds left to give ACP a thrilling 76-74 victory over St. Joseph 's College (box score) in the Albert M. White Gymnasium, its fifth victory in a row.

Bryan Jones hit seven 3-point shots and scored 25 points, 19 in the first half as the Panthers (7-9) opened up a 16-point lead. Bratek had a career-high 15, John Adamchick had 13 and 14 rebounds, and Ramy Mehany added 10, including eight in the first two minutes of the second half to provide a spark.

The Bears (14-6), who beat ACP by 23 points last season in Brooklyn , got 23 points from Mike Donnelly.

"We are really starting to put some things together and have been on a roll lately," said coach Craig Tynan. "It's a whole different atmosphere around this place. Students are coming out to the games, we are playing much better, and it's nice to be playing better heading into the final stretch of the season."

ACP 53, Clinton CC 46

Wednesday, January 24

ACP started the game on an 11-0 run, then used a late 10-0 burst to put the game away in an important Northern Independence Conference road victory, 53-46 at Clinton Community College.

 

John Adamchick scored 14 points to lead four players in double figures for the Panthers (6-9 overall, 2-1 NIC), who won their fourth straight. Ramy Ramzy had 13, Vartan Balian had 11 and Bryan Jones scored 10. Ryan Earle led the Cougars (10-9, 2-2) with 13 points.

 

Earle helped the Cougars rally from the early deficit, hitting three 3-pointers and scoring 11 points as Clinton took a 15-13 lead. The Cougars led 22-17 at halftime, but the Panthers scratched their way back and took the lead for good at 32-31 on a basket by Ramzy.

 

Clinton closed to 41-37 on a layup by Philip Barnes, but ACP scored the next 10 points to pull away. The Panthers outscored the Cougars 14-3 at the foul line for the game.

ACP 68, Rensselaer JV 58

Monday, January 22

ACP completed a much-needed sweep of its three-game homestand with a 68-58 victory over the Rensselaer JV in the Albert M. White Gymnasium.

John Adamchick scored 21 points to lead a strong inside game for the Panthers (5-9), who snapped an eight-game losing streak to their area rivals.

"I thought that was perhaps our most complete game of the season," said coach Craig Tynan. "The strong crowd support really helped us get off to a good start. I figured they (RPI JV) would go on a run, but we held it off with some strong rebounding and great passing by Vartan (Balian)."

Balian finished with eight points and a season-high 11 assists and controlled the tempo of the game from the opening tip.

Despite jumping out to a 14-point lead at halftime, ACP was forced to hang on as the Engineers pulled to within six points with four minutes remaining. Adamchick and Ramy Ramzy (12 points) scored two straight baskets to push the lead to eight and the Panthers never looked back.

Bryan Jones finished with 15 points, including three 3-point baskets to complement Adamchick inside. Rory Perner led RPI with 11 points.

ACP 69, Columbia-Greene CC 51

Saturday, January 20

John Adamchick had 16 points and 13 rebounds to help ACP overcome a sluggish start on the way to a 69-51 victory over Columbia-Greene Community College in the Albert M. White Gymnasium, its first winning streak of the season.

Ramy Ramzy scored 14 points and Bryan Jones had 10 and Mike Reddick scored a season-high nine as the Panthers (4-9) followed their victory over Briarcliffe College with another solid performance.

"We didn't come out with the intensity that we need to win games," said coach Craig Tynan. "Eventually we were able to wear them down with our depth, but it took longer than I had hoped. I really thought John (Adamchick) and Ramy (Ramzy) played well inside."

Dan Devantier had a game-high 21 points for the Twins.

ACP 76, Briarcliffe College 55

Thursday, January 18

ACP came out fast to prove its overtime loss to Briarcliffe College in the Mount St. Mary Tournament in November was one that got away.

With full-court pressure and a hard-working 2-3 zone the Panthers stifled the visitors early and rode the hot shooting of Bryan Jones to a 76-55 victory in the Albert M. White Gymnasium.

Jones scored 18 of his 21 points in the first half as ACP (3-9) built a 19-point halftime lead. He hit five 3-pointers for the game.

Strong defense and rebounding by ACP's big men, John Adamchick, Ramy Ramzy and Zach Bratek put the game into cruise control in the second half. Bratek, the 6-foot-7 newcomer, made his presence felt with multiple blocked shots, and the trio worked well together on the offensive end as well.

Panthers drop two in Florida tournament

Tuesday and Wednesday, January 2-3

A second straight cold-shooting performance and an injury to a key offensive player sent ACP to a 52-40 loss to Medaille (box score) in the third-place game of the 14th Annual Bahama House Classic in Daytona Beach, Fla.

John Adamchick led the Panthers (2-9) with 11 points and seven rebounds. Zach Bratek had eight points and five rebounds, and Ramy Ramzy pulled down 11 rebounds. Bryan Jones scored just three points before leaving in the second half with an ankle injury.

ACP shot just 29 percent from the field. James McNeil led Medaille (4-7) with 16 points.

Tournament host Embry-Riddle (13-3) beat Eastern Connecticut State 66-54 in the championship game.

In the opening round, Embry-Riddle, the nation's eighth-ranked NAIA Division II team, was too much for ACP. The Panthers suffered through their worst shooting performance of the season in an 83-41 loss (box score).

The Panthers shot just 23 percent for the game and could not match up with the Eagles' size. Jones led ACP in scoring with eight points. Ramzy and Bratek had six apiece. William Benjamin led a balanced attack for Embry-Riddle with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Injuries slow ACP at Pennsylvania tournament

Saturday and Sunday, December 2-3

Third-place Game

Williamson 61, ACP 45

Playing with a depleted roster due to injuries, ACP dropped a 61-45 decision to The Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades (box score) in the third-place game of the Keystone College Hilton Classic in LaPlume, Pa.

Starters Bryan Jones (the Panthers' leading scorer) and Ramy Ramzy (third-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder) were forced to be spectators as ACP dropped its third straight game.

John Adamchick tried as best as possible to carry the Panthers (2-7), finishing with a career-high 36 points. Adamchick's total was the highest for an ACP men's basketball player since 1999.

Opening Round

Rutgers-Camden 89, ACP 68

It was a tough night all around in the opening game of the Keystone College Hilton Classic as ACP faced a streak of cold shooting along with injuries to three starters in an 89-68 loss to Rutgers-Camden (box score).

Bryan Jones, Ramy Ramzy and Graig Reed all went out with injuries as the depleted Panthers bench did all it could but was unable to stop the high-powered offense from the Scarlet Knights.

The score was 28-22 midway through the first half before Jones and Ramzy both suffered ankle sprains; Reed late received a blow to the head and was forced to come out. John Adamchick held the Panthers together, with 20 points and nine rebounds, but 18 ACP turnovers and 59 percent shooting from Rutgers-Camden proved too much to overcome.

Jones had 13 points and Ramzy had 11 points before being forced to leave the game.

"It looked like a MASH unit on our bench with three of our starters," said coach Craig Tynan. "Those are three key players for us and we obviously missed their scoring and defense. But our team played right to the end, we had guys diving into the bleachers with five seconds left and down by 20 points. I was very impressed by our effort."

North Country CC 78, ACP 66

Tuesday, November 28

A big early deficit proved too much for ACP to overcome against powerful Northern Independence Conference foe North Country Community College, but not before the Panthers put a scare in the nation's No. 2 junior college team in a 78-66 loss in the Albert M. White Gymnasium.

Down 25 points in the first half, the Panthers (2-5 overall, 1-1 NIC) closed to nine at halftime and within six with five minutes remaining. ACP's tenacious defense held North Country (9-0, 3-0) to its lowest point total of the season.

"I give them credit," North Country coach Chad LaDue said of the Panthers. "They didn't quit."

John Adamchick led the Panthers with 17 points. Ramy Ramzy added 11 points and Vartan Balian had 10. The Saints did most of their damage from long range, hitting 10 3-pointers, seven of them by Al Miller, who finished with a game-high 25 points. ACP hit just three shots behind the arc.

ACP 93, Sarah Lawrence College 31

Sunday, November 19

ACP scored one of its most impressive victories in recent memory with a 93-31 victory over Sarah Lawrence College in the Albert M. White Gymnasium.

Bryan Jones led five Panthers in double figures with 17 points. Bob Greene added 11 points, while John Adamchick, Ramy Mehany and Graig Reed all had 10 points as ACP (2-4) snapped a four-game losing streak.

ACP drops two at Mount St. Mary tournament

Friday and Saturday, November 17-18

Ramy Ramzy scored 20 points and Bryan Jones added 13, but it wasn't enough to prevent a heartbreaking 77-70 overtime loss to Briarcliffe College (box score) in the third-place game at the Mount St. Mary Tournament in Newburgh, N.Y.

Jones was named to the All-Tournament Team for his performance for the Panthers (1-4) in the two games. In the opener, ACP dropped a 102-58 decision to the hosts (box score).

College of St. Joseph 94, ACP 76

Tuesday, November 14

A poor night at the foul line sent ACP to its second straight defeat, a 94-76 decision at the College of St. Joseph in Rutland, Vt.

The Panthers (1-2) were just 16-for-35 at the line and could not withstand a hot start in the second half by the Fighting Saints (2-2) as the hosts pulled away from a 42-42 halftime tie.

John Adamchick led ACP with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Bryan Jones hit three 3-point shots and finished with 15 points, while Denis Samuel and Graig Reed chipped in 10 points apiece.

Adirondack CC 72, ACP 64

Thursday, November 9

Adirondack Community College used a 19-3 second-half run to take control en route to a 72-64 victory over ACP in Queensbury, N.Y.

Playing without starting forward Ramy Ramzy, the Panthers (1-1) trimmed the deficit to six points with 1:30 remaining, but were unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities down the stretch and Adirondack clinched the win at the foul line.

John Adamchick led ACP with 24 points. Bryan Jones scored 13 and Dennis Samuel chipped in 11.

ACP 86, Word of Life 75

Monday, November 6

In its first season-opening victory in four years, ACP defeated Northern Independence Conference opponent Word of Life Bible Institute 86-75 in front of a packed house at the Albert M. White Gymnasium.

John Adamchick led the Panthers (1-0 overall, 1-0 NIC) with 18 points and 12 rebounds, including 13 in the first half to help stake ACP to a seven-point halftime lead. Bryan Jones and Vartan Balian each had 17 points to help the Panthers to a victory.

Word of Life jumped to an early 13-4 lead, but ACP rallied to take the lead behind the inside play of Adamchick and Ramy Ramzy, who finished with 13 points. ACP led by as many as 20 in the second half.

"I felt we played with some nerves in the first five minutes of the game, which is understandable," Coach Craig Tynan said. "As soon as we settled down, it was clear that if we played our game we could win."

The visiting Raiders were led by Josh Filler who had 26 points, including four 3-point baskets.

Tynan was thrilled with the fan turnout for the game, which he described as the largest in his seven seasons at ACP.

"I thought the crowd was great, and I think at the start of the second half, after we made a couple of steals and converted some easy layups the crowd really got energized and our team fed off of that," he said. "I was very pleased with the turnout because I think this team, as well as all of our student-athletes, deserves as much support as we can give them from our entire ACP community."

Rita E. Leighton '86 Alumni Game

ACP 86, Alumni 66

Saturday, October 28

In the second annual Rita E. Leighton '86 Alumni Game, John Adamchick scored 23 points to lead ACP to an 86-66 victory over the alumni team in the Albert M. White Gymnasium.

Ramy Ramzy added 11 points and Bryan Jones scored nine in a balanced offensive showing for the Panthers. Playing for the alumni team, ACP coach Craig Tynan scored a team-high 24 points, including four 3-pointers. Jarrod Richards '02 scored 13 for the alumni and Kevin Mocerine '06 had six. Also playing for the alumni were Brian Bruyns '96, T.J. Natalie '96, Ron Romano '96 and ACP Bookstore Manager Bob Kern.