Red Dragons Burn Lakers

by Contributor | February 27, 2016 6:56 pm

PLATTSBURGH, NY – The Oswego State men’s basketball team dropped a heartbreaker to No. 2 Cortland 77-74 in the SUNYAC Championship title game on Saturday in Plattsburgh’s Memorial Hall.

Oswego (20-8) will now await the NCAA Division III Selection Show at 12:30 p.m. on Monday to learn its tournament fate.

Cortland claims the SUNYAC’s automatic bid into the NCAA Championship.

Tied at 74-74 with 23.9 seconds remaining and Cortland with the ball, the Red Dragons had its offensive play break down in the waning moments and James Morales picked up a loose ball and heaved in a 3-pointer. Oswego was left with 0.4 seconds on the clock and got a good look for Brian Sortino that fell just short.

The Lakers led by as many 12 in the game, coming early in the second half at 46-34. Oswego’s advantage dissipated over the final 15 minutes due to red-hot shooting by the Red Dragons.

Over the final 16:50, Cortland went 11-for-18 from behind the arc, including 4-for-4 in the final 3:22.

Sortino and Kyle Covley were both named to the All-Tournament team at the conclusion of the contest.

On Saturday, Sortino paced Oswego with 27 points, eight assists and four rebounds. Covley chipped in 19 points, including a late 3-pointer to knot the game at 74-74.

The junior shot 5-for-9 from distance.

Also in double-figures for the Lakers was Keith Tyson, dropping in 12 points to go along with a team-high seven boards.

As a team, Oswego owned the glass to the tune of a plus-10 margin (39-29). Behind Tyson’s team-best seven were a trio of six rebound efforts from Alex Rawa, Mykelle Krecko and Mark Candelario.

The Lakers uncharacteristically turned the ball over six times in the first half, higher than its per-game average.

In the second half it was a different story, as Oswego did not turn possession over to Cortland at all.

Oswego’s turnovers did not affect the halftime score either, as the squad hit four consecutive 3-pointers to close the opening stanza ahead 41-30.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/sports/red-dragons-burn-lakers/

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