OSWEGO, N.Y. - The 22nd-ranked Oswego State men's basketball team made the most of its offensive opportunities during the first half and cruised to an 84-62 win over New Paltz on Friday at Laker Hall.
The Lakers (10-3, 6-0 SUNYAC) committed just five turnovers and shot 56 percent from the floor. They had just one turnover in the first half as they jumped out to a 43-26 halftime lead. The high shooting percentage was aided by Oswego State's ability to get the ball inside. The home team scored 24 points in the paint during the first half and 52 in the game.
Oswego State quickly took a 9-0 lead to open the game by hitting its first three shots from the floor and two more at the free throw line.
Chad Burridge (Sr., Hannibal, N.Y.) had four of the those points, starting his game-high 27-point night.
New Paltz (6-6, 3-3) kept the game close though, commiting just four turnovers of its own in the first 20 minutes. The Hawks hit a pair of three pointers midway through the half to cut the lead to 22-18, but the Lakers went on a 13-0 run to take control for good.
Josh Delfino (Sr., Newfield, N.Y.) scored six points, all in the paint, during the run, while
Chris Gilkes (Jr., Syracuse, N.Y.) added nine points in the first half to help the Lakers go up by 17 at the break. The Lakers also held the Hawks' Matt Devine to just four points in the first half. Devine was coming off a 40-point performance in New Paltz's previous game.
In the second half, the Hawks tried to use full court pressure to get back in the game, but the Lakers were able to beat the pressure and get the ball inside just as often to stay in control the rest of the way by shooting 62 percent in the half.
Gilkes finished with 17 points and a team-high six assists. The Lakers had 19 assists as a team to go along with just five turnovers.
Hayden Ward (Jr., Montauk, N.Y.) added 10 points and nine rebounds to give the Lakers three players in double figures. Devine finished with 19 points to pace the Hawks.
The Lakers will put their perfect conference record on the line again on Saturday when they host Oneonta at 4 p.m.
