Jan 26, 2019
CORTLAND, N.Y. – Cortland's bench provided 41 points, including a game-high 21 from Zach Lydon (Elizaville/Stissing Mountain), as the Red Dragons defeated visiting Fredonia, 73-56, to remain in a tie for second place in the SUNYAC standings.
Cortland improved to 14-4 overall and is tied with Plattsburgh with an 8-3 SUNYAC mark. Fredonia dropped to 2-16 overall and 1-10 in the conference. Oswego is the conference leader at 11-0, with Cortland and Plattsburgh a game ahead of fourth-place Potsdam.
Lydon hit 8-of-11 shots from the floor, 2-of-3 from 3-point range, and also recorded nine rebounds and four blocks. Rahim Akinwunmi (Elmont/Sewanhaka) matched his career highs with eight points and four rebounds, all in eight minutes at the end of the first half.
Kenny Charles (Huntington) was Cortland's top scorer among its starting five with 13 points on 6-of-12 shooting. William Lee Moore (Rochester/Greece Olympia), making his first start of the season, finished with nine points and a career-high tying eight rebounds in 17 minutes of action. Justin Cooper (Pine Plains/Stissing Mountain) added four assists and eight rebounds.
Mark Morgan scored nine points and Tyler Roberts and Cody Johnson each finished with eight points for the Blue Devils. Isaiah Ice had six assists and five rebounds and Messiah Hill led the team with six rebounds.
Fredonia led 6-2 early, but Cortland took a 7-6 lead on a Charles jumper with 15:07 left in the half and never trailed again. The Red Dragons led 27-20 with 3:51 left before finishing the half on a 9-2 run that included five points by Akinwunmi and four by Lydon. Cortland's lead was in double figures the entire second half.
Cortland shot 43 percent from the field overall and 31 percent (8-for-26) from 3-point range. Fredonia was held to 31 percent overall shooting and 29 percent (9-for-31) from long distance.
Cortland returns to action Tuesday at home versus Oneonta at 7:30 p.m.