VONNAK NAMED CONFERENCE PLAYER

OF THE WEEK

Jan. 7: Junior Bela Vonnak was named Liberty League’s Co-Forward of the Week on Monday after having one of the best games of his collegiate career and leading the St. Lawrence men’s basketball team to victory over SUNY Brockport on Saturday, 86-78.

 

Vonnak (Canajoharie, NY/Canajoharie) led the Saints to a win as he tallied a career high 25 points in only 23 minutes against Brockport. The forward shot 10-for-11 from the field and was 5-for-6 from the line and also grabbed three rebounds and one assist against the Golden Eagles.

 

Brockport, who was most recently ranked 11th according to D3Hoops.com, knocked the Saints out of the 2007 NCAA Tournament last year as the Golden Eagles handed the Saints a 74-49 loss.

 

The Saints improved to 3-6 following the win and will face SUNY Oswego on Tuesday, January 8 th, in their last game in Burkman Gymnasium before conference play begins on January 18th. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00pm.

 

(Photo by Tara Freeman)

 

VONNAK COMES UP BIG AS SAINTS

AVENGE 2007 NCAA TOURNEY LOSS;

TOP BROCKPORT, 86-78

Jan. 5: Junior Forward Bela Vonnak had his biggest game of the 2007-2008 season on Saturday afternoon as he led the St. Lawrence men’s basketball team to an impressive win over non-conference opponent SUNY Brockport, 86-78, in Burkman Gymnasium.

 

In the most recent D3Hoops.com national polls, Brockport’s men’s basketball team is ranked 11 th among all Division III schools. In 2007, the Golden Eagles took the Saints out of the NCAA tournament in the second round after winning 74-49.

 

Vonnak (Canajoharie, NY/Canajoharie), who scored 25 points for the Saints, shot 10-for-11 from the field and was 5-for-6 from the line, while also tallying three rebounds and one assists.

 

The game went back and forth throughout much of the first half, with the lead changing nine times in the first 20 minutes of play. The Saints were able to increase their lead to eight before Brockport poured on the heat and closed the gap, bringing it back down to a one-shot game for the remainder of the first half. The Golden Eagles were just two points ahead as the buzzer sounded at the end of the first half, 32-30.

 

The last twenty minutes belonged to the Saints, despite an early Brockport lead that ended with 16:53 left to play in the game when Vonnak made a lay-up to push St. Lawrence back into the lead, which the Saints never relinquished throughout the remainder of the game.

 

The Golden Eagles attempted to come back like they had in the first half, but the Saints were relentless, increasing their lead to a game-high 11 points after junior co-captain Richard Williams ( Kingston, NY/ Kingston) made a lay-up with 4:14 left. Brockport continued to chip away at the Saints’ decisive lead, bringing it within two baskets a number of times, but St. Lawrence prevailed in the final minutes, ending the game with an 86-78 victory.

 

Brockport’s 22 personal fouls were detrimental to their team’s hopes for a win, as the Saints shot 19-for-28 from the line, 26 of those taking place in the second half. The Scarlet and Brown also dominated from the field, where they were 51 percent, compared to Brockport, who posted 44 percent.

 

In addition to Vonnak, Williams tallied 14 points for the night, while also accumulating nine rebounds, one block and one assist. Sophomore Andy Hoercher (Auburn, NY/Hotchkiss) posted 13 points, two assists and one steal, while junior co-captain Tom Wopperer (Manlius, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius) also scored in the double digits, tallying 10 points and was also credited with five rebounds and two assists.

 

The Saints earned their first home win of the season and improved their record to 3-6 overall. They will be back on the court on Tuesday, January 8 th at 7:00pm to meet Oswego State. The game will be held in Burkman Gym.