Laker Weekend Preview

The Oswego State men’s basketball team is back in action for the first time in nearly a month, as it plays in the Moravian College Steel Club Classic this weekend. 

This year, there are four teams playing in the tournament including Oswego State, Montclair State University, Moravian College and Ithaca College. 

Oswego State faces off against Montclair State University Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and Moravian College Sunday at 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 4 vs. Montclair State University

Oswego State (5-2, 1-1 SUNYAC) has a tough matchup in its first game back as it takes on Montclair State University (7-3, 5-0 NJAC). This is the first game between these two teams in program history. Expect this one to be a shootout, as both teams are very strong offensively. The Lakers currently average 79 points per game as a team but have scored over 80 points in four of their seven contests. The Red Hawks are currently averaging an impressive 94.3 points per game this year and have scored over 100 points in four games this season. Despite this, the Red Hawks give up an ugly 90 points per game, so most of their games are offensive battles. Expect this one to be no different.  

Players to Watch

Oswego State: Joe Sullivan

Sullivan has been the most consistent player for the Lakers so far this season. Coming into this matchup, he is averaging a double-double with 14.9 points and 10 rebounds per game. Sullivan has had a double-double in four games this season, including an impressive 16-point, 16-rebound game vs. St. Lawrence University in early December. Expect him to play a key role for the Lakers this game, as well as moving forward. 

Montclair State University: Akbar Hoffman

The senior guard has been a scoring machine for the Red Hawks this season. He is currently averaging 18.3 points per game, while leading the team with 33 3-pointers made. His best game this season came against William Paterson University, where he scored 41 points while adding 9 3-pointers. 

Prediction

The Red Hawks take this one in a shootout 93-87.

Sunday, Jan. 5 vs. Moravian College

Like the matchup against Montclair State University, this is the first matchup between these two in their respective program histories. Moravian College (6-4, 1-0 Landmark Conference) faces off against Ithaca College in its first matchup of the tournament. It will be interesting to see how it fairs as it will give supporters an idea as to how this matchup against Oswego State will go, considering the Lakers defeated Ithaca College 85-80 in their first game of the season. 

Players to Watch

Oswego State: Jeremiah Sparks

Sparks had a two-game stretch earlier this season where he scored 25 and 27 points in back-to-back games. Other than those two games, however, Sparks has scored well below that mark. In his last game at SUNY Geneseo, he shot 0-9 from the field and only scored six points total. One could see a bounce back game from Sparks in this one. 

Moravian College: C.J. Barnes

The current leading scorer for the Greyhounds is averaging 15.3 points per game. Barnes is a fantastic free-throw shooter, as he is shooting 43-47 from the free-throw line this season, good for 91%. Expect the Lakers to focus heavily on Barnes, as he is a great deal of the Greyhounds offensive production. 

Prediction

Oswego State takes this one 77-71.

Photo from Oswegonian file photo 2019