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Roos run past Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

Posted 12/10/11

(Canton, N.Y.)- The SUNY Canton men’s basketball fashioned another terrific second-half comeback for the second game in a row as they ran past Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 79-73 in Canton. …

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Roos run past Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

Posted

(Canton, N.Y.)- The SUNY Canton men’s basketball fashioned another terrific second-half comeback for the second game in a row as they ran past Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 79-73 in Canton.

Freshman guard Vonallen Pickett (Brooklyn, N.Y.) scored 26 points and junior forward Woody Jules (Brooklyn, N.Y.) posted a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Roos who end the first semester at 6-3 overall. SUNY Canton, ranked 11th in the latest USCAA Coaches Poll, is also 4-1 on their new home court after Saturday’s win.

As they did in their previous game, the Roos fell behind at halftime trailing 37-28 at the break. But a different team came out in the second half as SUNY Canton exploded for a 13-4 run over the first five minutes to recapture the lead.

“We talked at halftime about finishing plays and focusing on what our tasks were,” said head coach Keith Sullivan. “We told the guys to keep to the game plan and not change and react. Get good looks, be more patient on offense and protect the ball which we did.”

Pickett opened the run with a jumper from the wing and then Jules muscled his way into the lane for a pair of layups sandwiched around a Trailblazers basket. Pickett and junior forward Irving Cato (New York, N.Y.) then drilled back-to-back 3-pointers from opposite sides of the arc to pull within one at 41-40. Pickett then scored on a driving layup, was fouled and made the free throw to put the Roos ahead for the first time since early in the first half.

The lead would remain in the home team’s favor for most the remaining time. But Massachusetts wouldn’t go away and kept attacking on offense to stay in the game. The Roos had an answer each time and did a terrific job limiting second chance opportunities by the Trailblazers as SUNY Canton outrebounded them 38-23 on the defensive glass and 47-35 overall.

“Our guys did a great job of staying in the moment and focusing on the individual plays and they didn’t get caught up in the momentum when they made a push down the stretch,” said Sullivan.

After Massachusetts failed to convert several great chances to get close or take the lead, SUNY Canton finally sealed the win from the free throw. After the Trailblazers pulled within two the Roos sank four straight shots from the line, two by Jules and another pair from junior guard Ryan Lamica (Constable, N.Y.) to end the threat. SUNY Canton hit 6 of 10 free throws in the final two minutes.

Pickett shot 10-for-12 from the field and was a perfect 5-for-5 at the line and Jules finished 9-for-16 from the floor.

Lamica ended the day with nine points and two assists. Sophomore guard Khalid Vaughn (New York, N.Y.) added seven points and four rebounds and sophomore guard Scott Dixon (Brooklyn, N.Y.) contributed 11 rebounds, three points and three steals.

Tyriq Rochester had 13 points and six rebounds to lead the Trailblazers. Chris Harris and Michael Young each added 11 points.

The Roos return to the court on Jan. 8 when they host the University of Maine at Fort Kent.