Men’s Basketball Falls To Potomac State

Chesapeake College's men's basketball returned to action on Wednesday night, January 15^th to host Potomac State College after nearly a month off over the winter break. The Skipjacks entered the contest with only two bench players as they came up short against the Catamounts, falling to Potomac State 73-66. The loss dropped the Skipjacks to 9-5 while Potomac State improves to 9-4.

Both squads came out trading baskets as each possession was answered with a similar scoring drive to even the score before Potomac was able to build a slim 16-12 lead with just under 12 minutes left to play in the first half. The Skipjacks were able to piece together a 12-2 run over the next three and a half minutes of action to take their biggest lead of the game, 24-18 over the Catamounts. The Skipjacks later built their lead to 7 points with 6:55 left to play in the half after freshman DJ Barnette connected on a made free throw to bring the score to 27-20. This would turn out to be the Skipjacks largest lead of the game as the Catamounts closed out the first half with a 14-3 run to head into halftime with a 34-30 lead over Chesapeake. The Skipjacks had a balanced attack in the first half as scoring was spread among six different players with Amir Pettiford leading the way with 8 points to go along with 5 rebounds. 

The Skipjacks defensive struggles continued as the second half started off with a 5-0 run and two missed scoring opportunities which forced first year head coach Andrew Sachs to call a timeout less than two minutes into the half. However, the Skipjacks continued to give up easy points as they saw their deficit grow to 12 as Potomac State took a 56-44 lead with under ten minutes to play. Chesapeake would later go on a 7-0 run to cut into the Catamounts lead and bring the score to 64-60 with now under four minutes to go.

With time ticking away and under thirty seconds left, Barnette found fellow freshman Joey Adams in the corner who somehow found a way to connect on a desperation three and give the Skipjacks life as he cut into the Catamounts lead and bring the score to 69-66. Despite the Skipjacks defensive efforts, Potomac State held the Skipjacks without a bucket the rest of the way as they handed Chesapeake a 73-66 loss. Adams would wind up leading the Skipjacks in scoring with 18 points. Sophomores Damon Gomer (10 points, 13 rebounds) and Amir Pettiford (14 points, 10 rebounds) both recorded a double-double in the loss.

The Skipjacks return to action Friday night, January 16^th to face the College of Southern Maryland inside Skipjack Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 pm.