BIG COMEBACK IN SECOND GIVES SAINTS

81-67 WIN OVER SKIDMORE

Feb. 9: The St. Lawrence University men’s basketball team shot nearly 70 percent from the floor in the second half to help overcome an eight-point deficit at the half and defeat Skidmore College 81-67 in Liberty League action Saturday at the Sports and Recreation Center in Saratoga Springs, NY.

 

St. Lawrence improves to 13-8 overall and 8-2 in the conference, maintaining their top spot in Liberty League standings, while Skidmore falls to 6-15 overall and 1-9 in the league.

 

The Saints got out in front of the Thoroughbreds early in the contest but were unable to stop the Thoroughbreds from shooting 53 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes, helping them gain as much as a 13 point lead, 43-30, with 45 seconds left on the clock. St. Lawrence was able to cut that lead down in the final moments after junior co-captain Tom Wopperer (Manlius, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius) made two from the line and senior Tyler Shaver (Ogdensburg, NY/Ogdensburg Free Academy) made a shot from behind the arc to boost the Saints heading into halftime, despite trailing 43-35.

 

An energetic Saints squad came back onto the court in the second and continued to build upon what they had started at the end of the first. St. Lawrence was able to stop Skidmore’s offensive game completely and go on a critical 21-0 run, where senior Tyler Wright (Teaneck, NJ/Paramus Catholic) scored eight of the first 16 points in the first 5:39 of the period to give the Saints a 51-43 lead.

 

The Scarlet and Brown increased their lead to double digits only minutes later to help ensure their eventual 81-67 victory for the Saints, as they split the weekend on the road.

 

Sophomore Andy Hoercher (Auburn, NY/Hotchkiss) led the Saints with 16 points, eight assists, and three steals. Wright tallied 14 points and grabbed six rebounds and six assists, while Wopperer and sophomore Josh Sharlow (Norwood, NY/Norwood-Norfolk) added 10 each.

 

St. Lawrence will host Hobart next Friday night in Burkman Gymnasium. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00pm.

 

UNION TOPS SAINTS, 79-67

Feb. 8: Despite four members of the Saints’ men’s basketball team posting numbers in the double-digits, St. Lawrence fell to conference opponent Union College on Friday night, 79-67 in the Viniar Athletic Center in Schenectady, NY.

 

St. Lawrence, now 12-8 overall and 7-2 in the Liberty League, remain in first place in conference standings heading into tomorrow’s contest with Skidmore College.

 

The first part of the game saw the visiting team grab an early six-point lead before Union was able to make it a one-possession game with 15:42 to go. The two teams saw four lead changes and just as many ties in the first 20 minutes before St. Lawrence was able to obtain an edge over the Dutchmen down the stretch to give themselves a 32-28 at the end of the half.

 

Despite St. Lawrence scoring first in the second period, Union was able to overcome the Saints’ advantage from the first and go on a 24-8 streak in the first 7:30, which included nearly four minutes without the Saints scoring. The Scarlet and Brown continued to fight, cutting what was once a 17-point lead to seven with 2:19 to go, but it wasn’t enough for St. Lawrence as Union’s 51-point second half lifted them past the Saints, 79-67.

 

Neither team shot particularly well, with the Dutchmen holding a slight 44-percent advantage over the Saints 43-percent. St. Lawrence outrebounded Union 40-35, but the visiting team also turned the ball over 20 times, the third highest this season, and the Dutchmen were able to use that to their advantage, scoring 19 points from them.

 

Leading the offense for the Saints was junior co-captain Tom Wopperer (Manlius, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius) who tallied 18 points and five rebounds. Classmate and co-captain Richard Williams ( Kingston, NY/ Kingston) also tallied in the double-digits, posting 14 points and grabbing three rebounds. Senior Tyler Wright ( Teaneck, NJ/Paramus Catholic) and sophomore Andy Hoercher ( Auburn, NY/Hotchkiss) each scored 10 a piece.

 

The Saints will travel to Saratoga Springs, NY on Satruday afternoon for a contest against Skidmore. Earlier in the season, the Saints defeated the Thoroughbreds, 75-39. Tip-off is set for 4:00pm.

 

WOPPERER’S LAST SECOND SHOT KEEPS SAINTS ATOP CONFERENCE STANDINGS

Feb. 5: Junior co-captain Tom Wopperer made a 12-foot jumper from the corner with just 2.9 seconds left on the clock to lift the St. Lawrence University men’s basketball team to a 57-56 victory over Liberty League opponent Clarkson UniversityTuesday night at Alumni Gymnasium in Potsdam, NY.

 

Wopperer (Manlius, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius) was the only Saint to score in the double digits against a strong and relentless Golden Knight squad, as he tallied 16 points and was impressive from every angle on the court.

 

With the win, the Saints, now 12-7 overall and 7-1 in the conference, remain in first place in the Liberty League, while Clarkson falls from second to fourth.

The first half of the contest was back-and-forth as neither team ever saw a lead of more than four points throughout the first 20 minutes. The crowd of North Country fans witnessed six lead changes and five ties, including a lay-up by sophomore Andy Hoercher(Auburn, NY/Hotchkiss) that came off a steal by junior co-captain Richard Williams (Kingston, NY/Kingston), which tied the game 28-28 with no time left on the clock as both teams left the court for halftime.

 

The game was up for grabs in the last twenty minutes, as neither team was able to really take control of the Liberty League showdown. The Saints came out ahead in the first half of the period and earned as much as a six-point lead (17:13) before the Golden Knights would come back and do the same (4:48). Those who predicted an evenly-matched contest were not surprised as the final five minutes of the game brought the crowd to its feet on many occasions, as St. Lawrence went on a 6-0 run to tie it 51-51 with 2:59 remaining.

 

The Scarlet and Brown were able to use the height of some of their players to their advantage as they were able to grab crucial rebounds that allowed them more time with the ball. The final 2:07 included five lead changes and was topped off with Wopperer’s jumper, and despite a last-moment effort on Clarkson’s part to make a shot from the field at the buzzer which proved unsuccessful, the Saints walked off the court with a 57-56 victory.

 

The Saints out-rebounded the Golden Knights 40-31 with the help of Williams, who grabbed 10 for St. Lawrence. Senior Tyler Wright ( Teaneck, NJ/Paramus Catholic) had nine rebounds, including a game high six offensive rebounds.