OSWEGO, N.Y. – The department of Oswego State Athletics has announced their March Athletes of the Month sponsored by Oswego Health. Jeremiah Sparks of the Men’s Basketball team and Sela Wiley of the Women’s Lacrosse team have been selected as the Oswego Health Athletes of the Month for the Month of March.
In the month of March, Sparks and the Oswego State Lakers had four postseason NCAA matchups, making it to their first Elite Eight in program history.
Sparks in their first game of the month in the NCAA tournament, Sparks finished the round of 64 against Marymount (VA) with 35 minutes played. The Jordan, NY native went 7-for-13 in the game, shooting 53.8%v from the field and 75% from long range (3-for-4), totaling 21 points. On top of this, Sparks made the most of his foul shots, going 4-for-4. On the defensive side of the ball, Sparks grabbed eight defensive rebounds.
Their second game, in the round of 32 also hosted by the Lakers was against the #10 John Carroll Blue Streaks. Sparks continued his postseason tear with a 16-point performance in the 80-62 victory to take them to the Sweet 16 for the second year in a row. Sparks went 5-for-12 and 5-for-6 from the charity stripe in the contest. On defense, Sparks had four rebounds and three steals, keeping the momentum swayed to the Lakers' benefit.
In quite possibly the biggest game in the program’s history came in the sweet sixteen matchup against the #1 ranked Randolph-Macon's Yellow Jackets. This game took place on the court of the Yellow Jackets and they had the longest home game winning streak in the history of NCAA Basketball across all divisions. Sparks went in and had a 24-point performance, going 7-for-12 from the field and 50% from three-point range. Where Sparks made a huge difference was from the free throw line, going 9-for-10 in the game. Sparks rounded out a double-double with an even five offensive and five defensive rebounds. Sparks went the entire game without committing a foul which proved to be a huge factor down the stretch of the game. The Lakers took down the #1 seeded Yellow Jackets by a score of 74-63, bringing them to their first elite eight appearance in program history.
In the Lakers' final game of the season, Jeremiah Sparks had a career-high performance at the biggest stages of the NCAA tournament. The Jordan, NY native went 48% from the field including going 50% from three point range. #23 also collected 12 total rebounds to go along with his 35 total points, rounding out his second consecutive postseason double-double. Sparks had an astonishing day at the free throw line, going 11-for-14 on the day. Unfortunately, the Lakers season would end at the hands of the UW-Whitewater Hawks by a score of 77-74.
