Men's Basketball Wins 26 Straight Games

The men’s basketball team extended their winning streak last Thursday, defeating Columbia-Greene 86-71 and scoring their twenty sixth win. With another win, the Vikings continue to hold the title of NJCAA Division III’s number one team in the nation.

“This has never happened before,” stated HVCC statistician, Lee Fobare. “We’ve never been number one in the country and I think it’s a great reflection of the school and the kids.”

Sophomore guard Tiki Mayben (Troy) led the team with 22 points and 8 rebounds. Sophomore Datwan Hemingway (Christian Brothers Academy) contributed 17 points and 14 rebounds with sophomore Justin Gallo (Lansingburgh) following closely with 16 points and 5 assists. Columbia-Greene was carried by Daton-Austin Michaud (Valatie) who scored a game high of 24 points.

The Vikings left the court with a 20 point lead at half time, setting the stage for a sure victory. Before the start of the second period Gallo received recognition for scoring his 1,000 point on February 9 against Mohawk Valley. Gallo is the third player in the history of the college to reach that plateau.

Despite Columbia-Greene’s relentless efforts to close the deficit in the second half, Hudson Valley remained intense and won the game by 15 points.

After the game, Datwan Hemmingway attributed the team’s success to hard work put forth by the players. “The reason for our success is the commitment that the players have put into the season. It’s the investment the team has put into making themselves better as people, as players and as friends. And now, it’s just paying off,” he declared.