ORLANDO, Fla.— Chris Thompson (Far Rockaway/Channel View) hit a jumper with four seconds remaining and Buffalo State (5-3) rallied for a 67-65 victory over Carthage (6-4) today in the first day of the Athlete Connections Orlando Holiday Classic.

Thompson finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Justin Mitchell (Buffalo/Timon) led Buffalo State with 24 points and 12 boards.  Roderick Epps (Uniondale/Uniondale) poured in 12 points, and Bradley Doyley (Brooklyn/Sports Management HS) dished out six assists to go with seven points.

The Bengals led 31-28 at halftime and led by seven early in the second half, but Carthage used a 16-0 run to pull ahead by as many as 11.  Carthage still led by 10 with five minutes remaining, but the Bengals scored 16 of the game's final 20 points, including Thompson's deciding bucket in the closing seconds.

The Bengals forced 28 Carthage turnovers and converted them into 25 points.  Both teams shot 41-percent from the field, but the Bengals took 21 more shots than the Red Men.   Carthage outscored the Bengals 21-6 from 3-point range. 

The Bengals will conclude their Orlando stay tomorrow against North Central at 4 p.m.