SAINTS EARN EIGHTH STRAIGHT WIN IN 72-67

VICTORY OVER VASSAR

Jan. 26: A game that included six ties and nine lead changes saw the St. Lawrence men’s basketball team prevail on Saturday, as the Saints took on a strong Vassar College squad and came out on top, defeating the Brewers, 72-67 in Liberty League action in Burkman Gym.

 

The win was St. Lawrence’s eighth consecutive win as the team improved to 10-6 overall and 5-0 in the conference, while Vassar fell to 11-3 overall and 3-2 in the League.

 

The two evenly-matched teams fought through the first 20 minutes with the Saints controlling the ball throughout the beginning of the first half. The Scarlet and Brown held a five-point lead at two different points throughout the first half, while the Brewers were able to keep it a two-possession ballgame, and in the final minutes, when the Saints were plagued with missed shots and foul,s Vassar took advantage of their opportunity to take the lead and sank two consecutive shots from three-point range to push them ahead 33-31 as the first half ended.

 

St. Lawrence immediately tied the game in the opening of the second half, as sophomore Andy Hoercher (Auburn, NY/Hotchkiss) made a jumper only 23 seconds into the final 20 minutes. Vassar made two more free throws to give them an edge again, but Hoercher repeated for the game’s sixth tie, while senior Tyler Wright (Teaneck, NJ/Paramus Catholic) followed, making ashot from the paint to give the lead back to St. Lawrence.

 

The Saints would increase their lead to six before Vassar went on a 7-0 run in just two and a half minutes before senior Tyler Shaver (Ogdensburg, NY/Ogdensburg Free Academy) would end it with a lay-up to give the Saints a 43-42 edge with 13:30 to go.

 

A free-throw by Wright made it a two-point lead before Vassar’s Matt Nunn made a shot from beyond the arc to give Vassar their fifth lead of the contest. The Saints wouldn’t respond until a minute later, when junior Ben Augliano (Clayton, NY/ Thousand Islands) would make a lay-up to give the Saints a 46-45 advantage.

 

The Brewers kept the game close with their strong offense, never giving the Saints more than a six-point lead. But the momentum of the game changed with 3:24 on the clock, with St. Lawrence only holding a 61-57 lead, as Saints’ Wright blocked a crucial lay-up by Vassar’s Nunn to prevent them from making it a two-point game.

 

That was all the excitement the Saints needed as Shaver then posted six unanswered points to give the home team their first double-digit lead of the game. St. Lawrence held an 11-point advantage with 53 seconds left, and despite a late offensive surge on the part of the Brewers, who ended the game with a 9-3 run, the Saints would walk off the court with their fifth Liberty League win of the season, edging Vassar, 72-67.

 

The Saints were led by junior co-captain Richard Williams (Kingston, NY/Kingston), who had 14 points, shooting 6-for-8 from the field and 2-for-2 from the line. Junior Bela Vonnak (Canajoharie, NY/Canajoharie) had his first double-double of the season, scoring 10 points and tallying 11 rebounds. Both Shaver and Hoercher tallied 11 points a piece, while Augliano also added 10 points to the Saints’ effort.

 

St. Lawrence will travel to Clinton, NY next Friday night to take on conference opponent Hamilton College. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00pm.

 

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.

 

FIVE SCORE IN DOUBLE DIGITS IN 84-69 WIN OVER CLARKSON

Jan. 22: Five members of the St. Lawrence men’s basketball team scored in double digits as the Saints came away victorious against neighboring Clarkson University, winning 84-69 in conference action Tuesday night in Burkman Gymnasium.

 

The players’ efforts helped the Saints, now 8-6 overall and 3-0 in the Liberty League continue their five game winning streak, while Clarkson (4-10 overall, 2-1 Liberty League) lost its first conference game of the season.

 

Sophomore guard Josh Sharlow (Norwood, NY/Norwood-Norfolk) led the Saints’ offensive efforts with 18 points, a game-high, as well as two rebounds, one assist, and one steal. He shot 4-for-6 from the field, 9-for-10 from the line and added a three-pointer in the first half.

 

Senior Tyler Shaver (Ogdensburg, NY/Ogdensburg Free Academy) had 14 points, while sophomore Andy Hoercher ( Auburn, NY/Hotchkiss) tallied 13. Junior co-captain Tom Wopperer (Manlius, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius) accumulated 11 points and four rebounds, and senior Tyler Wright ( Teaneck, NJ/Paramus Catholic) posted 10 while also earning seven rebounds.

 

The first five minutes saw the lead change three times between the rival teams. A brief Golden Knight lead was quickly stunned by a 19-2 Saint run to put St. Lawrence ahead 27-9 with 8:02 left in the first half.

 

The Scarlet and Brown used their strong man-on-man defensive pressure to contain the Golden Knights as the Saints flirted with a 20-point lead throughout the remainder of the period, keeping their lead above 15 until the final minute when Clarkson shot from three-point range and had two free throws to end the period behind the Saints, 36-24.

 

The second half would prove to be much more exciting, as the Golden Knights were able to cut St. Lawrence’s lead down to seven with 14:01 left in the game. Despite their efforts, Clarkson was unable to put any pressure on a strong Saint offense, and trailed in the double-digits the remainder of the game.

 

The Saints will take on conference opponents Rensselaer and Vassar this upcoming weekend on their home court before taking off on the road the following weekend. Tip-off on Friday is set for 8:00pm, and Saturday’s game is scheduled for 4:00pm.