The Oswego State men's basketball team had its second-straight convincing performance at home, this time in the form of an 83-55 victory over Potsdam in Max Ziel Gymnasium. Oswego's triumph improves its season mark to 15-7 and 11-4 in league action while the Bears fall to 2-18, 1-13.
Men's basketball still holds a half-game lead in the win column for the SUNYAC's top spot over Plattsburgh. The Cardinals come to campus at 2 p.m. on Saturday as the Lakers try to avenge an earlier season 70-66 loss on the road.
In the first half, Oswego started slow, fighting back-and-forth over the opening 10 minutes and trailing by as many as nine. With the score in Potsdam's favor at 19-10, the Lakers stole the momentum, going on a 24-3 run to end the half. The Laker stretch included a 17-0 spurt that grabbed control of the game.
Oswego did not slow at all in the second half, opening on a 10-4 run that eventually grew to as many as a 28-point advantage.
The Lakers were paced by junior Walter Sampson, who tallied a career-high 21 points on 7-for-12 (58.3%) shooting from the field and 70.0% (7-for-10) from the charity stripe. Sampson also notched a game-best three assists.
Helping in the effort was Brian Sortino, chipping in 15 points and two assists. Rashawn Powell was just one rebound short of a double-double, recording 12 points and nine boards. Junior Kyle Covley filled the stat sheet, scoring eight points, collecting seven caroms, blocking two shots, stealing away two Bears' possessions and distributing one assist. In all, 11 Lakers scored in the game.
The Oswego defense was stellar in the contest, forcing 10 first-half turnovers and holding Potsdam to just 31.7% (20-for-63) from the field.
