Freshman Kyle Covley (Penfield, N.Y.) scored all of his career-high 14 points in the first half to fuel the Oswego State men's basketball team (10-2, 3-2 SUNYAC) to a 74-56 win over Fredonia (5-6, 1-4 SUNYAC) in a conference battle on Friday night.
The Lakers started the contest on a 20-8 run, which included three shots from downtown in a fast-paced beginning to an up-and-down game. Oswego State would maintain its double-digit lead throughout the contest, stretching it to as high as 27.
The Lakers defense led to some transition baskets, and they tallied 29 points in the game's first 10:22. Fredonia slowed the pace up a bit, but the Lakers still took a 40-24 lead into the half.
Senior Sean Michele (East Rochester, N.Y.) kicked off the second stanza with a big three-pointer to start a 7-0 run at the beginning of the half. Hayden Ward (Sr., Montauk, N.Y.) established himself early in the period, scoring eight points in the first five minutes of the half. He finished with a game-high 15 points.
Fredonia kept up the pressure, though; not giving up until the final whistle blew. After Oswego State built the lead to 67-41 on a Rashawn Powell (So., Johnson City, N.Y.) tip off a Daniel Ross (Jr., Syracuse, N.Y.) missed dunk, the Blue Devils combatted with a 13-2 run.
However, it was too little, too late as the Lakers ran out the clock on their 10th win of the season. Michele also finished with double-digit points (11) in 32 minutes of action. Chris Gilkes (Sr., Syracuse, N.Y.) tacked on six points, four steals and four assists. Four Fredonia players scored double digits, but no one registered more than 11 points.
Oswego State hosts Buffalo State at 4 p.m., today, Jan. 12, in a matchup of 3-2 conference records.
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