Colts Win Third Straight Region XV Championship

MIDDLETOWN – The SUNY Orange men’s basketball defeated SUNY Rockland 84-82 Sunday to win the 2025-26 Region XV Championship. This marks the third straight region title for the Colts, after beating Westchester in the championship in both 2023-24 and 2024-25.

Standout freshman Anthony Pacciarelli took home Tournament MVP honors after leading the Colts with 30 points and 8 rebounds. Joining Pacciarelli on the All-Tournament team were sophomores Keishawn Morris and Darren McFarlane. Morris posted 17 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals in the championship game, while McFarlane added a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

The Colts got out to an early lead with baskets by McFarlane on their first two possessions of the game and extended their lead to 15-8 on a three-pointer by Morris with 13:50 to go in the half. A three by Nate Johnson gave the Colts an eight-point lead, their largest of the games, with just under eight minutes remaining in the half.

The Hawks answered with a 12-0 run over the next four minutes to take a 28-24 lead with 3:42 left in the half before a flurry of threes from both teams ended the half deadlocked at 33-33.

The Colts would see their lead grow to eight three more times in the second half, including as late as 5:42 remaining, however the Hawks would not go down without a fight. Back to back three-pointers by Amari McCammon tied the game at 76-76 with 2:35 left.

Rockland, forced to foul late, sent McFarlane to the line with :19 seconds remaining, where he made both free throws to take a 83-79 lead. Jaden Davis connected on a corner three for the Hawks to cut the lead to one, before they had to foul with only two seconds remaining.

Pacciarelli stepped to the line and made his first to extend the Colts lead to two, but missed on the second. A three-quarter court desperation heave at the buzzer from the Hawks fell just short, giving the Colts their back to back to back championships.

The Colts are back in action on Saturday, March 7 as they host the East District A&B Championships. The Colts will face Mercer in the East A Championship at 6:00 pm, following Monroe Community College vs Rockland in the East B Championship at 3:30 pm.