The Genesee Community College men's basketball team lost a heartbreaker to visiting Erie Community College by a single score in a battle between two of the elite teams of the Western New York Athletic Conference.
The Kats ended on top 96-93 after both teams took turns changing leads down the stretch. Brian Fobbs and Rahmel Thompson combined for 60 points with Fobbs recording yet another 30-plus point game with 31, while Thompson added 29.
On paper Genesee deserved better after shooting nearly 54 percent from the floor along with an 86 percentage from the free-throw line with Fobbs leading the way from the charity strip by hitting 17 of his 18 attempts.
The Cougars came out flying with a 10-0 run, but the persistent Kats constatntly were knocking on the door and took their first lead at 26-24. Genesee responded by building a six-point lead at 37-31, but Erie closed out the first half with an 8-2 run to leave both teams tied at 39.
The Cougars looked in control with a 12-point lead with five minutes to go, but the Kats refused to go away as both teams changed leads in the final minutes. Fobbs sank a pair of free throws in the game's final 15 seconds to get Genesee within a point at 94-93, but couldn't get the tying bucket as time expired.
Fobbs recorded another double-double with 14 rebounds as the sophomore was honored before the game for eclipsing 1,000 career points in his last game at Niagara with a presentation from athletic director Kristen Schuth. Fobbs' 31 against Erie leapfrogged him in Cougar all-time scoring from 12th all-time into the top-10 with 1,041 points by surpassing Phillip Santiago (1,029 points) and Don Juan Tyson (1,030 points).
Jarett Haines and Brandon Peters each scored a dozen against the Kats, with the latter adding a team-high eight assists. Thompson and Tyrese Cherry each added a half-dozen boards
The Cougars continue WNYAC play when they travel to Rochester to take on division-leading Monroe Community College Jan. 31 with a 7:30 p.m. start.