Fast Start Propels No. 22-Oswego State Past Cortland, 84-65

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CORTLAND, N.Y. ­– Six players in double-figures and a perfect game at the free throw line earned the 22nd-ranked Oswego State (17-3, 13-0 SUNYAC) men's basketball team an 84-65 win at then second-place Cortland (14-6, 9-4) on Saturday afternoon.

The Lakers jumped out a 22-10 by the midway point of the first half and never looked back. Chad Burridge (Sr., Hannibal, N.Y.) had nine points in the opening run, while Sean Michele (Sr., East Rochester, N.Y.) hit a pair of three-pointers with Chris Gilkes (Jr., Syracuse, N.Y.) and Burridge adding long-range bombs of their own.

The balanced scoring continued as the Lakers pushed the advantage all the way to 42-22 with three minutes left in the first half.

Cortland did go on a small run to cut the gap to 48-33 by the half, and even trimmed the lead to 10 early in the second half.

However, Oswego State left no doubt who the better team was on Saturday with a 23-2 run over the next eight minutes. Five different Lakers scored during the eight-minute stretch.

The Lakers led by as many as 75-42 before Cortland closed the gap to 84-65 at the final buzzer.

Burridge led Oswego State in scoring with 18 points, while Hayden Ward (Jr., Montauk, N.Y.) had 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Michele added 12 points and a team-high five assists, while Conor Monaghan (Sr., Brooklyn, N.Y.) had 11 points. Gilkes and Ryan Sheridan (Sr., Blauvelt, N.Y.) each chipped in 10 each. In all, five Lakers combined to help the team go a perfect 15-for-15 from the charity stripe.

Brian Manning's 11 points led the Red Dragons in the contest.

The Lakers continue a three-game road trip with games at Oneonta on Friday and New Paltz on Saturday before wrapping up the regular season with three straight home contests.