SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - The SUNY Poly men's basketball team won their opening round game of the Sig Makofski Tournament 68-59 over the St. Joseph's University Golden Eagles. The Wildcats had four players score double digits in the game. The Wildcats earned the win the hard way, coming from behind to eliminate an early 13-point deficit to get back into the game. The win brings the Wildcat's record to 3-3 this season. St. Joseph's fell to 1-3.
The Eagles got off to a hot start, building a 13-point lead in the first ten minutes of the game thanks to an 18-5 run. The Wildcats battled in the second half of the first period to cut the deficit to eight thanks in large part to a 10-point half from LJ Randle. He knocked down a pair of three-pointers and had five rebounds in the half.
In the second half, the Wildcats outscored St. Joseph's 41-24. The Wildcats opened the half with five unanswered points to cut the Eagle's lead to three points. The Wildcats went on to have an 8-0 run from 9:18 to 8:12 to take their second lead of the game 49-45, and another 8-0 run from 6:56 to 4:32 to extend their lead to eight points. They kept the offensive pressure on to grow their lead to a game-high 10 points in the final seconds.
The Wildcats dominated in a few key areas in the win. They shot 41.7% from 3-point range while St. Joseph's shot 8.3 percent. The Wildcats also had the edge in second-chance points 17-8, in rebounds 38-33, and in fast break points 8-2. Just one player scored more than 10 points for St. Joseph's While four players scored in the double-digits for the Wildcats.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
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Levi Spina had a team-high 18 points for the Wildcats. He knocked down 5-6 from 3-point range, had a pair of assists, and a steal. The 18-point performance was a career-best for the sophomore, as were the five three-pointers.
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Jesse O'Dell and Dylan Ernst both scored 14 points for the Wildcats. O'Dell had nine rebounds, three steals, and an assist. Ernst had five rebounds, a steal, and a block.
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Spencer Malloy was the game's high scorer with 25 points on 12-19 shooting. He also had eight rebounds and three assists for St. Joseph's.
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LJ Randle had a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double for the Wildcats with two assists and a block.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats will play St. Joseph's (Me.) in the Championship Game of the Sig Makofski Tournament at Union College. The game is scheduled for a 4:00 PM tip-off in Schenectady.
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