SHAVER LEADS SAINTS IN VICTORY

OVER RPI, 77-51

Jan. 25: The St. Lawrence men’s basketball team continued their perfect record in Liberty League conference play and earned their seventh consecutive win Friday night as Senior Tyler Shaver scored 13 points to lead the Saints to a 77-51 victory over the Red Hawks in Burkman Gym.

 

The first half of the contest saw an early Saint lead in the beginning moments but the Red Hawks’ Sam Simmons had two shots from the paint to give RPI a one-point edge, until Saint senior Tyler Wright (Teaneck, NJ/Paramus Catholic) made a free throw to tie the game. Another RPI lay-up by Rashad Simmons pushed his team back into the lead before senior Sebastian Kurtz made a free throw to complete a three-point play to give St. Lawrence a 7-6 lead with 13:44 left in the first.

 

Shaver (Ogdensburg, NY/Ogdensburg Free Academy) shot from three-point range to give the Saints a four-point edge, which RPI quickly ended to tie the game for the third time at 10-10 a piece. The Red Hawks took the lead twice more, but Shaver had two more crucial shots from beyond the arc to eventually give the Saints a 16-15 lead with 9:41 left.

 

The Red Hawks were able to keep it a two possession game the rest of the period until the final three minutes of the half when the Saints earned a double-digit lead for the first time in the contest with 17 seconds remaining. The home team walked off the court at half time with a 37-27 advantage.

 

The Saints used their strong offensive capabilities to continue controlling the game in the second half, as they were 48-percent from the floor in the remaining 20 minutes, while containing the Red Hawks to shooting only 32-percent. The home team outscored RPI 40-24 in the second half to give them a decisive 77-51 victory.

 

Shaver led offensively with a game-high 14 points, as well as five total rebounds and one steal. Sophomore Andy Hoercher ( Auburn, NY/Hotchkiss) also tallied in the double-digits, scoring 12 total points with four rebounds, four assists, and one steal.

 

Junior Bela Vonnak ( Canajoharie, NY/Canajoharie) posted 10 points, as well as seven rebounds and two assists.

 

Seniors Wright and Kurtz tied for a game-high eight rebounds, along with RPI’s Simmons.

 

St. Lawrence, now 9-6 overall and 4-0 in conference play, will face Vassar College in Liberty League action on Saturday. The Saints’ and Brewers’ contest will begin at 4:00pm in Burkman Gym.