The Oswego State men's basketball team completed a statement weekend in the SUNYAC with a 81-70 victory over league-foe Geneseo on Saturday afternoon in Max Ziel Gymnasium. Oswego's win keeps it in sole possession of first in the conference standings at 11-1 to coincide with a 15-4 overall mark. The Knights drop to 12-8 overall and 7-6 in the SUNYAC with the loss.
A nip-and-tuck early portion of the first half gave way to a late Oswego run to gain control for the remainder of the contest. Trailing by one with 8:13 remaining in the opening stanza, Brian Sortino hit a trey to give Oswego a lead it would not relinquish. The Lakers closed the period on a 27-12 run to own a 48-34 margin at the break. Oswego kept its foot on the gas in the second-half, enlarging its advantage to as many as 17 while not allowing the Knights any closer than seven.
Sortino showed the way for the Lakers, recording his second double-double of his career, both coming in the last six games. The senior's first double-double came on points and assists, while it was the latter and rebounds on Saturday. Sortino posted a season-high for both points (33) and boards (10), both game-highs in the triumph.
A true catalyst of the bench was freshman Vic Clervil. In just 17 minutes of court time, the forward made his presence known on defense, emphatically swatting four Geneseo shot attempts while grabbing the second-most rebounds for Oswego (9) – both new career-highs. Helping Clervil on the glass was senior Mykelle Krecko, collecting eight caroms to go along with 11 points on 5-for-6 shooting from the field.
Also in double-figures in the points column with Sortino and Krecko was Jamir Ferebee with 17 points on over 50-percent shooting from the floor.
Oswego registered a 10-rebound advantage over the Knights (43-33) while stifling any Geneseo attempts from beyond the arc. The Lakers held their opponent to just 14.3-percent shooting from distance (3-for-21).
Action will resume for men's basketball at 5:30 p.m. on Friday when it hosts Potsdam in a league matchup.
