Canton, NY - Despite a late scare from the host, the Clarkson University Men's Basketball team calmly sunk free throws down the stretch to claim a 78-68 Liberty League victory over St. Lawrence on Tuesday night.

The Golden Knights improved to 14-3 overall and 7-1 in league play, as the 14 wins in 17 games is the best start in school history, matching the 1934-35 team. The Saints suffered their fifth loss in conference, falling to 9-8 overall and 4-5 in league play. Clarkson will host RIT and Hobart this weekend at Alumni Gymnasium.

Clarkson led for much of the first half, but the Saints stuck with the Knights for nearly the entire first period, even occasionally taking modest leads with a strong effort from the 3-point line. However, the Knights always had an answer at the other end, relieving St. Lawrence of a one-point advantage on a 3-pointer from Mike Hayduk at 5:07 and never looking back. After that make, Conrad Zampier buried a 3-pointer and Drew Zlogar made a jumper to give Clarkson a seven-point lead (34-27), the same margin the Knights would find themselves with at the break. Both teams shot 50 percent from the floor overall and the 3-point line, but Clarkson took better care of the ball, committing only four turnovers to St. Lawrence's eight.

In the second half, Clarkson pushed its advantage to double figures, making the margin as much as 16 points on a couple of occasions. However, the Saints would not go away quietly using the energy from the student section to help push them along. St. Lawrence pulled within five points with 6:10 to go on a Brady Condlin 3-pointer, and though Clarkson would edge out to another 10-point lead, the Saints began to use a full court press to confound the Knights. It would work initially, as St. Lawrence got within four points with less than two minutes to go, but the Knights made key free throws down the stretch to claim a 10-point win.

Conrad Zampier made all five of his attempts from beyond the 3-point line and led all scorers with 16 points in just 17 minutes, while John Coleman produced 15 points and made four steals. Felix Abongo also scored 15 points and grabbed five rebounds and dished out five assists. Drew Zlogar came off the bench for 11 points in 19 minutes. For St. Lawrence, five players finished in double figures, led by Brady Condlin's 15 points, a solid total considering he was in foul trouble throughout the game. Kyle Edwards tossed in 11 points while Willie Zachery, Kaleb Faison and Kyle Kobis each produced 10 points.