by Contributor | March 23, 2016 1:46 pm
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The final D3hoops.com men’s basketball Top 25 poll has been released, with Oswego State earning the No. 21 spot on the list. Oswego’s ranking is the second-highest final poll finish in program history, as the 2011-12 squad wrapped its season at No. 17.
Among the Top-25 teams, the Lakers were one of only two teams from the East Region and the only squad from the State University of New York Athletic Conference. Fellow SUNYAC institutions Cortland and Plattsburgh were, however, receiving votes.
Oswego garnered the final ranking on the heels of one of its most successful seasons in program history.
The 2015-16 Lakers made their furthest push in the postseason, bowing out in the NCAA Division III Championship Sweet 16, the program’s first ever appearance in that round. It was also the 14th straight year Oswego made it to the SUNYAC Championship, and the third time in five seasons the Lakers played in the title game.
The Lakers were a balanced team that could go deep into their bench, with 10 players averaging more than 10 minutes per game. Brian Sortino led the group throughout the campaign on his way to a cavalcade of postseason honors. The floor general earned Third Team All-America and First Team All-East Region from D3hoops.com, First Team All-East Region from the National Association of Basketball Coaches and First Team All-SUNYAC.
Helping with leadership were a quartet of senior veterans. Point guard Walter Sampson averaged the second-most points for Oswego (11.9), despite missing the final 16 games due to injury. Sharp-shooting Kyle Covley paced the team in 3-point field-goals made (68) and also averaged double figures in the point column (10.5). Not far behind Covley from distance was classmate Alex Rawa, who made 67 treys to go along with a team high 6.0 boards per game. Aiding Rawa on the glass was senior center Mark Candelario, collecting 5.7 rebounds per game.
Oswego looks to build on the outstanding season heading into next year, as it will have its sights set on a third-straight NCAA Championship appearance and 15th straight trip to the conference tournament.
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