Despite a slow start for the GCC men's basketball team on Wednesday night, the Cougars picked up their first Western New York Athletic Conference (WNYAC) win of the season. Genesee shook off a 17-point first half deficit to hold off MCC 86-85.

Genesee started the game just 7 for 22 and fell behind 41-24 with just over four minutes to play in the opening half.

Justin Washington tallied two of his five points in the game with a layup that cut the Tribunes lead down to 15, and started a 16-2 Genesee run that ended the half and got GCC back to within three at 43-40 heading into the locker room.

MCC connected on a three to start the second, but back-to-back layups from Ladji Fofana and Dejean Ellebb cut the Genesee deficit to just two.

Fofana hit one of his two 3pt baskets in the game after Monroe took a four point lead to get GCC to within one, and with 15:21 to play, Brian Fobbs converted a three-point play to give Genesee its first lead of the game at 57-55.

Fofana, who scored a game-high 35 points in the game, grabbed a defensive rebound that set up Brandon Adams for a layup that gave GCC its largest lead of the game at 66-58 with just over 11 minutes to go.

The Tribunes hung around and eventually retook the lead 79-78 on a pair of free-throws with 1:45 left.   

Brandon Peters gave GCC the lead back the next trip down the floor on two free-throws of his own, and scored five points in the final minute and a half to help Genesee hold off Monroe, which converted a layup with less than a second to go to cut the final margin down to one.

Along with his game-high in points, Fofana grabbed nine rebounds and dished out six assists. Rahmel Thompson finished with 13 points, Fobbs added 11, Adams chipped in nine points and grabbed six boards and Peters tallied five points and five assists.

Genesee (10-11, 1-2) will look to break even in WNYAC play on Saturday when the Cougars host Jamestown CC. Game time is set for 3 p.m.