Potsdam, NY – Seniors Michael Hayduk and Derek Hart combined for just five points in the first half, but totaled 38 in the second half as the Clarkson University Men's Basketball team was virtually unstoppable in the final 20 minutes in a 95-75 victory over SUNY Canton on Wednesday night.

The Golden Knights improved to 4-3 overall with the win, scoring their most points in a game (95) since hitting triple digits in the season finale of the 2011-12 season. SUNY Canton fell to 2-3 on the season.

The first 20 minutes played out like two separate quarters as SUNY Canton scored nearly half of its points in the first six minutes of the period. The Kangaroos raced out to a 17-4 lead in just 5:24, capped off by a steal and a dunk from Romario Fletcher, forcing the Knights to take a timeout to regroup. The opportunity just to catch their breath helped the Knights as they began to shake off their early slump from beyond the 3-point line. Clarkson made just one of its first nine attempts from long range in the early going, while SUNY Canton was shooting 73.3% overall. That changed with the insertion of freshman Matt Higgins, who buried three 3-pointers in just eight minutes. Inspired by the first-year collegian's play, several other Knights started making shots outside as well, including two straight threes from Matthew Hornak that brought Clarkson back within four (29-25). SUNY Canton would extend its lead to eight points on two occasions down the stretch, but a Liam Ellis trey with the clock winding down pulled the Knights back to within two at the break, the closest they had been since the first minute of the half.

Higgins and Ellis each had nine points to lead Clarkson, as the Knights recovered from their slow start to go 9-for-23 from beyond the arc. SUNY Canton's Adrian Williams tossed in 11 points, with all of them coming in the first eight minutes of the half. The Roos' Sam Annorh also added 13 points while Fletcher chipped in 10 points.

In the opening minutes of the second half, the two teams traded the lead on a handful of occasions, but a jumper by Matt Hornak at 17:25 gave Clarkson the lead for good. That basket by Hornak began a 17-4 run that was capped off by a Mike Hayduk 3-pointer at 13:33. Hayduk was just getting started, however, as he buried seven 3-pointers in the second half en route to a game-high 23 points. He shot 0-for-4 in the first half before his offensive outburst in the final 20 minutes. With Clarkson shooting well from the perimeter and having established Hart as a force in the paint, SUNY Canton was just trying to play keep up. But after a strong first half in which the Roos shot 55.6% overall (15-for-27), they couldn't maintain their pace, going just 9-for-28 (32.1%) in the second half. On the other hand, Clarkson racked up 58 points in the second half.

Hayduk nearly doubled his previous career-high of 12 points with his performance, while Hart finished with a double-double on 20 points and 10 rebounds. Drew Zlogar also added 17 points, while Matt Higgins scored 11 points off the bench. Sophomore point guard Liam Ellis nearly recorded a double-double of his own with 10 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

For SUNY Canton, Sam Annorh scored 23 points in 40 minutes, but committed eight turnovers. Romario Fletcher had a double-double on 22 points and 11 rebounds and Adrian Williams finished with 16 points.