Oswego State Lakers men’s basketball got out of their first set of away games this past weekend 1-1 with a one-point loss to SUNY Fredonia and a one-point win against Buffalo State.

Both contests the Lakers faced double-digit deficits that they were able to erase. At SUNY Fredonia on Friday night, the Lakers faced a tough second half where the Blue Devils shot 70 percent from the field.

They put together a rally that had them in the lead 75-74 after a go-ahead jumper from Ian Schupp with 17 seconds left. Fredonia’s Dante Williams answered that with a go-ahead jumper of his own with nine seconds remaining. Brian Sortino’s floater attempt bounced off the rim to end the game for the Lakers, losing 76-75.

“Our togetherness, even though we ended the weekend 1-1 and wanted to come out 2-0 , we know this next weekend is going to be big,” Mykelle Krecko said. “In order for it to be successful we got to stay together.”

The next afternoon the Lakers had nothing going for them from the start against a dangerous Buffalo State team.  They faced a quick 13-1 deficit and then their largest deficit of 16-points with the score being 25-9.

With their backs against the wall, sophomore Tyler Pierre gave them a spark with 10 first-half points, including a two-handed slam right before the half.

“Basically listening to coach all the time, he’s told me from the start be ready to go,” Pierre said. “I had to step up and do my thing.”

The second half was a straight battle. The Lakers took the lead a few times, including a 69-66 lead with 2:40 left after a layup from Sortino and jump-shot from Schupp.

It was all defense from there, with the Lakers leading 69-68 forced Buffalo State into a shot-clock violation with four seconds left in the game, sealing the victory.

“That was as gritty a win as we’ve had in my six years here, that win at Buffalo State,” Leone said. “We had nothing going; emotionally, mentally, physically and to grind and just stick together and pull that one out was a signature moment in our season.”

The Lakers depth as a team was proven again with good scoring outings from Krecko, Keith Tyson and Pierre. Pierre, in particular, was sort of a new coming, despite showing flashes off the bench all season. Leone spoke highly of his performance on both ends of the court.

“I’m not surprised, I’m not surprised he was ready to go, he’s that kind of person, he’s all about the team,” Leone said. “I was real proud of him, yeah he scored 14 points, but I thought that was the best game he had in terms of defensive rebounding all year.”

Defense was going to be one of the big focal points during this road-trip, and it showed tremendously as they held a dangerous Buffalo State team to 68 points. Where at home the Bengals have averaged 86 points per game, including three games over 100 points.

“Incredible, just shows that we can do it,” Leone said. “Our execution of how we had to play individuals in their system was at the highest level.”

The College of Brockport inched a game closer to Oswego State in the standings with their 2-0 weekend, and could be in position to take the one-seed from the Lakers in Saturday’s matchup.

Leading Brockport by one game, the Lakers would automatically clinch the No.1 seed with a victory over Brockport on Saturday, even if they were to lose to SUNY Geneseo on Friday.

If the Lakers and Brockport finished the season tied in conference and head-to-head records, it would come down to where Cortland and Oneonta finish in the standings. If Cortland finishes the season as the third-seed, the Lakers have the one-seed, if Oneonta finishes third, it will go to Brockport.

“I don’t think a lot teams think we’re going to be able to sweep this weekend and not be able to host,” Schupp said. “In the end of the day we got to take it one step at a time.”

All the scenarios stay in the back of the Lakers minds as they know they control their own destiny, and Coach Leone stresses mental preparation for the upcoming stretch in order to succeed.

“These guys will be ready to go, they are going to be excited,” Leone said. “I think if we go into the game with a height and level of enthusiasm and togetherness and our minds are in a very positive place, I really believe we’re going to play with a high level Friday.”

The Lakers look to capture that one-seed starting Friday night at SUNY Geneseo with 5:30 p.m. tip-off at the Kuhl Gymnasium.