By Ted Waddell
LOCH SHELDRAKE — November 3, 2006 — Winning 112-51 isn’t a bad way to start the college basketball season season.
In Wednesday evening’s National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) game between the Generals of Sullivan County Community College and the visiting Berkeley College Bulldogs at Paul Gerry Fieldhouse, the home team led 50-21 at halftime.
SCCC (1-0), which was ranked No. 1 in the nation among NJCAA Division III teams in the preseason poll, cracked the 100-point ceiling with 4:40 left on the game clock on a couple of free throws by Ryan Sutton.
Double-digit scorers for SCCC included sophomore Kelvin Nelson, who had a game-high 22 points, sophomore Donte Harrison (20), sophomore Michael Harris (16) and sophomore Jason Johnson(14).
Nelson recorded a triple-double, as he grabbed 14 rebounds and made 11 steals to go along with his aforementioned 22 points.
Phillipe Leger led Berkeley (0-1) with eight points.
Stats from the free throw line: SCCC was 21-of-31 (68 percent); Berkeley 11-of-29 (34 percent).
“I think we played pretty well,” said SCCC Coach Chris DePew, who is beginning his ninth year at the helm.
“We got off on the right foot, and everybody got into the game so they could show me what they were made of.”
Berkeley College Coach Doug Koban was not available for a post-game interview.
Notes: The Generals will return to the court tonight when they compete in the Bronco Tip-Off Classic at SUNY Delhi. SCCC will face Corning Community College at 6 p.m. in an opening round game.
If the Generals win, they will play the winner of the Jefferson Community College vs. SUNY Delhi opening round game in the championship contest at 2 p.m. tomorrow.
If SCCC loses tonight, it will square off against the loser of the Jefferson Community College/SUNY Delhi contest tomorrow at noon in the consolation game.