Riley Naclerio Nets Career-High 32 points against SUNY Canton

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Riley Naclerio tied his career-high with 32 points and added a team-high 14 rebounds as the St. Lawrence University men's basketball team scored a 95-81 victory over SUNY Canton Saturday afternoon in the home opener non-conference win at Burkman Gymnasium in Canton.

The 95 points for the Saints (3-1) is the most since Jan. 20, 2012 when St. Lawrence downed Rensselaer 100-82. The scoring outburst was due in large part to a 51.4 percent field goal percentage (36-for-70), including 40% from beyond the 3-point line (8-for-20) for the Saints. Naclerio hit 11-of-16 from the field, 3-3 from 3-point range and 7-for-7 from the free throw line.

The junior forward led four players into double figures scoring as Kyle Edwards and Kyle Kobis each scored 17 points and Dom DeRegis added 11 points for the Saints. Edwards and Kobis handed out five assists each.

SUNY Canton (1-2) had a pair of four-point leads in the first half including one at 19-15 with 12 minutes left in the opening period. A layup by DeRegis and a 3-pointer by Kobis sparked an 18-5 St. Lawrence run capped by a Naclerio dunk giving the Saints an 11-point lead at 35-24.

Canton trimmed the lead back to five points with consecutive 3-pointers but St. Lawrence regained control with a 14-3 run to take a late 49-33 lead and the Saints went into the halftime break with a 51-39 lead.

Early in the second half, the Kangaroos had a chance to cut the lead to three points but missed a 3-point shot and St. Lawrence answered with the next 11 points to take a 17-point lead at 67-50.

Canton battled back again trimming the lead down to four points at 76-72 but a 3-pointer by Naclerio sparked an 11-2 St. Lawrence run for a 13-point lead at 87-74 with 3:48 left to play and the Saints cruised to the victory with 4-for-4 free throw shooting down the stretch. The Saints finished the game hitting 15-of-16 from the line.

St. Lawrence will host SUNY Plattsburgh Tuesday night with a women's/men's doubleheader starting at 6 p.m.