Sage men post impressive 95-83 win over MCLA on Friday night
The Gators posted the second most points in program history as they racked up a key win in their home opener.
Albany, NY---The Sage Colleges men's basketball team hosted the Trailblazers of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts on Friday night in the Kahl Center. The contest was the home opener for the Gators and they proceeded to tally the second most points in the young program's history as they were victorious, 95-83. Sage improves to 1-2 overall, while the Trailblazers fall to 0-1.
Sage led 44-41 at the half and never trailed in the second half of play. The Gators would lead by as many as 19 points (86-67 at 3:35).
For Sage, senior forward Derick Faragon (Rotterdam Junction, NY/Schenectady) led the way with a game-high 22 points after connecting for 15 points in the first half of play. Senior guard Garret Bishop (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga) tallied 20 points, including 16 in the second half. He was 9-12 from the line and added a team-high and career-high nine rebounds in the game with three assists and three steals.
For the second straight game, junior guard Pat Lanoue (Troy, NY/Hoosic Valley Central) had 12 points and was joined by senior forward Lamont Garland (Albany, NY/Colonie), who also netted 12 points off the bench after knocking down 10 in the second half as Sage had 51 second half points and shot a blistering 60.9% from the floor (14-23).
Sophomore Marcus Hunter (Ridge, NY/Longwood) tallied 11 points, while sophomore guard Jeff Stopera (Scotia, NY/Scotia Glenville) added 10 points with a season-high eight assists.
MCLA's senior center Jon Greenberg (Antwerp, Belgium/Dennis-Yarmouth) entered the night and the 2010-11 season just 19 points shy of achieving his 1,000th career point. By night's end, he fell short by just five and after fouling out in the final three minutes of the contest. He had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds after hauling down eight defensive caroms and blocking three shots in the game.
Senior guard Brendan Kordana (Adams, MA/Hoosac Valley) tallied 17 points, while senior guard Benny Cuprill (Albany, NY/Tamarac) added 13 points with three assists and two steals for the Trailblazers.
Sage returns to action on Monday, November 22 travelling down the street to Albany College of Pharmacy for a 7 p.m. non-league contest. MCLA hosts Hartwick College on November 23 at 7:30 p.m.
