ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. - Tuesday night's 60-56 victory over SUNY Cobleskill had moments of trepidation, elation and doubt for the Bard College men's basketball team, but the real value of the win might well be felt in the weeks to come.

Freshman DeVahnte Mosley was a beast out there, as has been the case all season. Siondueh Burnette was his steady self. But Brandon Cunningham and Alex Fabean-Scotch asserted themselves, and that was something the coaching staff and the team have been waiting for. When those two play well, it really changes everything for the Raptors.

It was a close game early, tied three times in the first eight minutes, but an 11-2 run gave Bard a 22-13 lead with 9:02 left in the first half. That was due in part to Fabean-Scotch, who made 3-of-5 three-pointers in the first 20 minutes. Bard led, 36-26 at the break.

The Raptors pushed the lead to 13 twice in the second half and appeared to be on cruise control, but the Fighting Tigers (1-6) fought back. A 9-0 run cut a 50-39 lead to 50-48 with plenty of time left (9:01).

Cobleskill never tied it but never went away either. Bard's lead was trimmed from five to three at the four-minute mark, the three-minute mark and the one-minute mark. It was still 58-55 when Mike Chapman (Brooklyn, NY) went to the foul line with 2.5 seconds left, and he made the first to make it 58-56. On his next attempt, Cobleskill was called for a lane violation, and the turnover prompted the visitors to have to foul right away. Fabean-Scotch made a pair to finish the scoring and the Raptors won by four.

Freshman Taylor Sanders (Southampton, NY) led Cobleskill with 20 points, and senior Alexis Nunez aded 16 points and six rebounds. Chapman had three points and a team-high 14 rebounds.

The Fighting Tigers had a hard time with Mosley. He had 14 points, nine rebounds, two steals, two blocks and a team-high five assists. Cunningham had 11 points, seven rebounds and four blocks, and Fabean-Scotch also finished with 11 points. Harry Johnson hit a pair of three-pointers off the bench, and Burnette finished with seven points, five rebounds and a block.

So, yes, it was a good non-league victory and the Raptors are 3-3. It also may have ignited something in that Bard lineup, and time will tell.

The next time it will tell is Thursday night, when the Raptors head to Albany to take on Albany College of Pharmacy. Tip is at 8.