GENESEO, N.Y. - SUNY Geneseo senior forward Gordon Lyons totaled 20 points and 11 rebounds for his 10th double-double of the season to lead the Knights to a 77-63 victory over Cortland in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) men's basketball action, Tuesday.

Lyons led five Knights that scored in double-figures, including senior guard Andy Drescher who compiled 17 points, and first-year guard Kevin Crockett, who added 14. Senior forward Connor Rogers and senior forward James McKenna were each credited with 10 points in the victory. 

"We did a good job of contesting a lot of their shots and they didn't get many open looks," said head coach Steve Minton. "I thought Connor (Rogers) played his best floor game of the year while Kevin (Crockett) did an outstanding defensive job in the second half on their leading scorer."

Neither team led by more than five points during a tight first half. Two Lyons free throws put Geneseo up, 16-11, at 13:50, but the Red Dragons responded with a 9-0 run, finished off by a Blair Estarfaa strike from long range to put the visitors up, 20-16, at 10:11. Five more lead changes would yield a 34-32 Geneseo lead after 20 minutes of play. 

The Knights' defense was the story in the second half. A Rogers layup at 17:23 tied the score, 38-38, and started a 15-0 Geneseo run that staked the Knights to a 51-38 lead with 12:49 to play. Lyons was credited with two layups and a free throw while Crockett and Drescher each hit a three during the decisive stretch, as Cortland went a combined 0-for-7 from the field with a turnover.

Cortland was able to cut the deficit to 10, 61-51, at the 7:18 mark, but a Crockett jumper and two McKenna free throws put the Knights back up 14 with 5:45 on the clock. Geneseo converted 14-of-17 free throws down the stretch to help secure the victory. 

Lamard Herron led the Red Dragons with 17 points, while Estarfaa, who entered the game leading the SUNYAC with a 52.5 3-point field goal percentage, added 11 points, including a 2-of-7 showing from long-range.  

Geneseo continues its three-game home stand this weekend, hosting Fredonia on Friday for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off, before entertaining Buffalo State on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.