Men’s Basketball Pick Up First Win as Jennings Dazzles

Paul Smith, NY ~ The Paul Smith's College men's basketball team played their best basketball of the season on Wednesday night, beating Word of Life Bible Institute 76-56.  

The Bobcats were led by Willie Jennings IV (Hyattsville, MD) and Elijiah Pratt (Queens, NY) who had 21 and 20 points, respectively.  Jennings was especially hot from behind the three-point arc, hitting 5/8 for 62.5% from distance.  Freshman forward Darius Rivers (Bronx, NY) dominated on the baords, picking up a team high eight assists and adding seven points in the victory.  Fellow freshman Marquis Hines (Prince Georges County, MD) contributed 12 points and seven rebounds while Michael Soto (Miami, FL), Brian Foster (Queens, NY), and Parker Bogardus (Chelsea, VT) added four points each. 

"We felt the energy in the atmosphere after our last game," said Pratt, referring to the close defeat at home against Vermont State University at Randolph just a week earlier.  "There was no doubt that today was going to be the day that we got it done.  Coach Parker came in this past weekend and instilled confidence in the team."  Assitant coach Mychal Parker has been added behind head coach Brad Rideout's bench to help develop the men's basketball program in the coming years.  Parker, a standout at Maryland, was a top-level prospect and brings with him expertise and experience at the NCAA Division I level. 

One of the key new players brought in by Coach Rideout to help turn the program around after the fall semester is Willie Jennings IV, who has been one of the most consistent players for the Bobcats this spring.  "I continue to push my teammates to be better and stay together as a team," said Jennings.  "I play for the team and the energy and positivity is what I live for.  That's what coach preaches to us every day, so I want to keep it going and we want to get 1% better every day."

That improvement has been notable, as the Bobcats are shooting 36.5% from the field this semester, compared to 27.1% last semester.  They're also allowing 20+ points less per game this semseter (76 ppg compared to 100 ppg).  

"It was a total team effot on both sides of the court," said head coach Brad Rideout.  "Each player stepped up and we play solid team basketball.  We finally put two halves together which allowed us to control the tempo through the whole game.  The guys truly deserve to get this win - they've come ready to practice every day and put in the work," added Rideout.  

Next up for the Bobcats is Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) opponent Southern Maine CC on Saturday, January 27th at 3pm in Portland, ME.  You can follow the men's basketball team on Instagram at @psc_mensbball or follow the general athletics account at @smitty_nation for schedules, scores, highlights, and more!

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At Paul Smith's College, it's about the experience. As the only four-year institution of higher education located in the Adirondack Park in upstate New York, Paul Smith's provides real-world, hands-on learning in fields such as business or and hospitality, culinary management, forestry, environmental sciences, and natural resources. We can draw on industries and resources available in our backyard while preparing students for successful careers anywhere. Our community of resourceful, enterprising, supportive, and adventurous individuals collectively provides experiential education, student support in the classroom and beyond, and meaningful opportunities for our alumni. We pride ourselves on research and advocacy on issues that improve our planet and the lives of the people who inhabit it. Learn more at www.paulsmiths.edu.