Press Releases

December 9, 1997
Season #35: Runnin' Colonials Face Dowling in Home Opener on Dec. 10

Contact: Joe Dionisio
(516) 287 8313
Fax: (516) 283 4081

Southampton, NY -- The Runnin' Colonials, who recently kicked off their 35th season, play their home opener on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m., when they host Dowling College in the gymnasium at Southampton College of Long Island University.

The men's basketball team, which carries a 2-2 record into Wednesday's contest, brings many new faces into the 1997-98 campaign.

One of the primary additions is Head Coach Charlie Peck, who takes over the position after stints as assistant coach at Dowling College, New York Institute of Technology, and SUNY Farmingdale. Peck, a Suffolk County police officer since 1988, replaces Sidney Green, who resigned in March after two seasons as head coach.

Peck's assistant coaches, all of whom are making their debut with Southampton, include: Josh Gorman, who recently concluded two seasons as a guard on the team; Henry Miller of Brooklyn, a 15-year veteran coach of AAU youth basketball; and volunteer coaches Bob Cunningham and Ken Ervin. Southampton native Kirk Ornstein begins his second year as Strength and Conditioning Coach.

"We could be a dangerous team," said Peck, who earned his first head coaching win with a 87-85 victory over Longwood College on Nov. 22. "I like to have a small roster that emphasizes team unity and conditioning. That should help us get stronger as the season progresses."

On the court, Southampton has seven returnees on its 12-man roster: Captain Karlton McCants, the team's only senior; juniors Kevin Fleming and Marcus Simmons; and sophomores Kosta Diamantis, Noel Diaz, Gregg Testaverde and Bradley Washington.

The newcomers are: sophomore David Harrison, who played for the College in 1994-95, and was a member of Southampton High School's two straight Suffolk County and Long Island Class C championships in 1993 and 1994; juniors Mark Blake and Amos Ryan; and sophomores Erin Garris and Peter Quinn.

Last season, the Runnin' Colonials went 13-14 overall (10-12 in the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference), and reached the first round of the NYCAC tournament for the second consecutive year.