The Oswego State men’s basketball team kicked their season off on Nov. 7 and 8, with clashes against both the University of Mount Saint Vincent and Union College in the Max Ziel Men’s Basketball Tournament. Following these duels, they stayed home to face off against St. Lawrence University on Nov. 11.

The Lakers wasted no time showing what they are capable of in the new season, clinching an authoritative 106-66 win over the Dolphins. 

The contest started in a balanced fashion, with the Lakers up 14-11, seven minutes in. However, that narrative quickly changed, as the home-squad went on a 15-4 run, continually shutting down potential scoring opportunities from the Dolphins.

Despite a push at the midpoint of the half from the opposing squad, the Lakers refused to let up. The offensive attack was spearheaded by savvy veteran guard Steven Bradley, while Deacon Judd and Jayson McGhee also proved to be benefactors.

The Lakers closed out the first half with a nifty layup from Judd, which was assisted by Freddy Fowler. The home squad, now reputable for their fast-paced offense and aggressive defense, took to their bench, honed in on a 55-36 lead.

The Lakers sought to build upon what they previously constructed in the first half – and they did exactly that. The scoring was opened with a flurry of efficient buckets from the team, while the Dolphins were only able to tack on a mere 10 points through the first eight minutes of second-half action, underlining the tightly coordinated Lakers defense.

Momentum continued to remain with the Lakers, as they took a stunning 92-50 lead just 10 minutes into the half. The younger players on the team got their chance to shine after the aforementioned advantage was taken, with freshmen Kobe Nwosu, Patrick Emling and Corien Noble subbed in. The three poured in a combined 20 points, assisting in a dominant 106-66 team win, where Bradley led the Lakers in points, with 17.

Tides shifted out of the Lakers’ favor the following day, as they fell in a tight race with Union College in the tournament championship game.

The first half of the title game commenced, and immediately with it came an abundance of action. Both squads applied equally balanced attacks, and while the Chargers jumped out to a 27-20 lead, the Lakers were able to come within just two points, thanks to clean shooting and heavy board-crashing.

Buckets continued to be traded, and at one point, a tie of 38-38 was achieved. However, a consecutive slew of misfires by the Lakers allowed the Chargers to capitalize and the Charges went into the break with a firm 50-41 lead.

The Chargers stormed into the second half, going on a 12-2 run within the first four minutes – and the Lakers struggled to find their footing. The team attempted to make a comeback, but to no avail, as the Chargers would not give up an edge in pace of play.

A clutch three-pointer by Harrison Collins put the team back up by 10, followed by a prolonged offensive stalemate from the Lakers, due to several missed attempts. 

The final buckets were had, and the Lakers waved the white flag within the remaining 10 seconds. The Chargers, whose attack was led by Tanner Tedesco (18 points), Jack Plesser (17) and Christian Dufort (14), took home the hardware, in an 81-75 championship game victory. 

The Lakers regrouped just four days later, as they took down St. Lawrence University on Nov. 11. 

The Lakers stamped a quick tempo as they jumped out to a 28-18 lead, amid a flurry of buckets from Bradley. They built upon this momentum, using their size to crash the boards, along with a quick pace of offense to gain a clear advantage over the Saints. 

Misfires and turnovers proved costly for the visiting squad, as the Saints went into the break, down 16.

The Saints attempted to make a comeback, but to no avail. Bradley and Judd complemented each other, as they contributed to a Laker lead that extended to as much as 20 points, 13 minutes into the new half. 

Their defense continued to stand tall, denying the Saints much of any offensive momentum, en route to a 92-83 win.

Bradley built upon his already-strong junior season, with a team-high 28 points, while Judd dropped in 22 of his own, on an efficient 10-11 from the field.

The Lakers’ (2-1) homestand continues this weekend, when they face off against the Nazareth Golden Flyers on Saturday, Nov. 15, in the Max Ziel Gymnasium.