Strong First Half Propels Oswego Men Past Cortland, 81-67

More news about: Cortland

CORTLAND, N.Y. – Oswego shot 66 percent from the field in the first half to take a 23-point halftime lead and the visiting Lakers defeated Cortland, 81-67.

Brian Sortino led four Oswego double-figure scorers with 20 points as the Lakers improved to 8-3 overall and 4-0 in the SUNYAC. Walter Sampson scored 18 points and handed out five assists, Kashawn Powell added 13 points and five rebounds and Kyle Covley finished with 12 points.

Sortino made 8-of-13 shots, Sampson finished 6-of-8, Powell went 6-of-9 and Covley was 5-of-9 from the floor. The Lakers finished at 56 percent shooting for the game and 53 percent (8-of-15) from 3-point range.

Cortland (8-2, 2-2 SUNYAC) was led by junior Blair Estarfaa's (Buffalo/Maryvale) career-high 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including 5-of-6 from the 3-point arc. Junior T.J. Hefele (Greenlawn/Friends Academy) scored 10 points and senior Lamard Herron (Westbury) tallied nine points.

Sortino scored 12points and Powell 11 in the first half as Oswego took a 47-24 lead. The Lakers made 19-of-29 shots in the period and drained 6-of-9 treys, compared to 31 percent shooting for the Red Dragons (9-of-29) and 3-of-13 long-distance accuracy.

Oswego led 70-42 with 7:50 left before Cortland scored 14 straight points, including five each by Estarfaa and Hefele, to pull with 14 with just under three minutes left. The closest the Red Dragons got after that was 13 points on two occasions in the last minute and 20 seconds. Cortland shot 56 percent in the second half and 43 percent for the game.

Cortland travels to Geneseo on Tuesday, January 13, at 5:30 p.m. for a SUNYAC matchup.