The Oswego State men’s basketball team (10-2, 4-1 SUNYAC) is back home on Saturday as it takes on SUNY Cortland (9-3, 3-2 SUNYAC) in a conference matchup at Max Ziel Gymnasium.
The Lakers are winners of six straight games and currently sit in third place in the conference standings, trailing only The College at Brockport (10-3, 5-1 SUNYAC) and SUNY Potsdam (10-3, 5-1 SUNYAC). The SUNYAC is extremely competitive, and the Lakers’ schedule is very tough, as head coach Jason Leone has said in the past. These games are the ones the Lakers need to win if they want to be at the top of the SUNYAC standings. If they can pull off another win vs. SUNY Cortland, the Lakers will extend their winning streak to seven games and climb up the standings.
Last Seasons Matchups
Last season, Oswego State went 1-1 vs. SUNY Cortland, winning on the road, 77-60, and losing at home, 72-67. In the win, Liam Sanborn led the way for the Lakers with 19 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists, a near triple-double. Sanborn also played well in the loss later in the season, scoring 14 points, while adding eight rebounds and seven assists. SUNY Cortland had a much different looking team last season in terms of their leading scorers. Last season, it was then-senior Nicky Bonura who led the way for the Red Dragons in both games. Justin Cooper, who was their second-leading scorer last season, has also left due to graduation.
Players to Watch
Oswego State: Liam Sanborn
Just look at what he did last season vs. SUNY Cortland; nearly two triple-doubles in two games. It is hard to not pick him as the player to watch. Sanborn was fantastic in both those games. Heading into this matchup against the Red Dragons, he is averaging 12.5 points per game and is coming off of a 22-point performance vs. SUNY New Paltz. If history repeats itself, expect Sanborn to come out and play well.
SUNY Cortland: Austin Grunder
The sophomore for the Red Dragons has been on an absolute tear this season. Grunder is a legitimate threat to put up a couple of 20-20 games this season in points and rebounds. He is currently averaging 22.8 points to go with 16.8 rebounds per game. He has had a double-double in all but one game this season and has had over 20 rebounds in two games this season as well. His best game this season came against Buffalo State, where he scored 35 points and added 16 rebounds.
Prediction
Oswego State wins a nail-biter, 74-70, extending their winning streak to seven games.
The Oswegonian file photo from 2018.
