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Roos push past Paul Smith's

Posted 1/26/12

(Canton, N.Y.)- The SUNY Canton men’s basketball team used a strong spurt late in the second half and had four players score in double figures helping the Roos pull away from Paul Smith’s College …

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Roos push past Paul Smith's

Posted

(Canton, N.Y.)- The SUNY Canton men’s basketball team used a strong spurt late in the second half and had four players score in double figures helping the Roos pull away from Paul Smith’s College 93-84 Wednesday night in Canton.

The Roos, ranked 11th in the USCAA Division I Coaches Poll, were happy to be home after playing the last four games on the road as they improved to 10-6 overall. The Bobcats dropped to 5-14.

The 93 points were a season-high for the Roos as they shot 47 percent from the floor knocking down 8 of 16 3-pointers (.500) and 21 of 27 free throws (.778). Both the latter percentages were also season highs for SUNY Canton.

Junior forward Irving Cato (New York, N.Y.) tossed in a game-high 21 points shooting 7-for-10 from the floor and a perfect 5-5 from the free throw line. Freshman guard Tyler Ellison (New York, N.Y.) notched his first career double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore guard Khalid Vaughn (New York, N.Y.) had 16 points and sophomore guard Scott Dixon (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added 13.

The Roos trailed by two points at halftime, 48-46, and then by four before Cato converted a layup and Dixon a 3-pointer to push the Roos ahead 51-50 four minutes into the second stanza. Two minutes later Dixon scored on a layup and junior forward Woody Jules (Brooklyn, N.Y.) hit one of two free throws giving the home team a 59-54 advantage.

The Bobcats took their final lead of the game with just under 12 minute remaining when Stephen Edwards buried one of his five threes in the game to give the visitors a 62-61 lead. SUNY Canton quickly got the lead back on their next possession when Cato crashed the boards and scored on an offensive rebound and put back, was fouled and made the free throw for a 64-62 advantage and a lead the Roos wouldn’t relinquish again.

After Paul Smith’s pulled within one at 72-71 with seven minutes on the clock, the Roos responded again, this time with a 13-2 spurt that gave them a double-digit lead. Vaughn knocked down a three from the left wing to start the run and then Ellison made a steal at midcourt, converted a layup, was fouled and completed the three-point play. After the Bobcats misfired again, freshman guard Vonallen Pickett (Brooklyn, N.Y.) scored on a driving, acrobatic layup and again drew a foul and made the ensuing free throw. Ellison then completed the run with back-to-back jumpers from the left elbow after a pair of Bobcats’ turnovers. Paul Smith’s did pull within six points twice in the closing minutes, but the Roos were able to effectively kill the clock and convert 3 of 4 free throws in the final minute to seal the victory.

Pickett and Jules each finished with nine points apiece. Freshman guard Sean Perrin (Prescott, Ontario) had seven and junior guard Ryan Lamica (Constable, N.Y.) contributed four points, four rebounds and four assists.

Kashean Alston pumped in 20 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for the Bobcats. Edwards also scored 20 points and snagged six boards.

The Roos head back to Maine this weekend for a game at the University of Maine at Augusta on Saturday, Jan. 28 and then face Vermont Technical College on Sunday, Jan. 29.