Albany, NY—The Gators of The Sage Colleges hosted the Kangaroos of SUNY-Canton on Saturday afternoon in Kahl Gym. Canton's senior guard Romario Fletcher (Queens, NY/Pathways College Prep) exploded for a 31 points in lifting the Kangaroos to a 77-74 win. SUNY-Canton improves to 3-3 overall, while Sage drops to 2-5.
Sage led early in the first half 13-3, before the Kangaroos went on an 11-0 run and took a 21-16 lead with 10:19 left in the first half. Sage came from behind in the first half after trailing by as many as nine points twice and took a 41-38 lead at the break. The first half featured four lead changes.
Sages senior forward Rob Mills (Newburgh, NY/Newburgh Free Academy) led the Gators with 11 first half points, while senior Davon Sylvester (Bronx, NY/Cardinal Hayes) added nine rebounds in the first half.
Canton's junior forward Adrian Williams (Brooklyn, NY/Brooklyn Collegiate) had 13 points in the first half, while senior guard Romario Fletcher (Queens, NY/Pathways College Prep) connected for 10 points with six boards in the first half. Canton opened the second half on a 13-4 run and held a 51-45 lead with 15:08 left to play before Sage called a timeout. Down the stretch there were six ties and seven lead changes before a Mills three-pointer basket at 5:52 gave Sage a 64-61 lead. The battle back and forth continued down the stretch before Sage took a 74-72 lead on a three-point basket from Mills at 1:03.
With 23.6 left Fletcher sunk a layup and was fouled converting the free throw to give Canton a one-point lead, 75-74. With 11 seconds left, Mills attempted a three-pointer off the right side and it missed the mark before Walter Jeter was fouled on the rebound. Jeter got a trip to the free throw line to shoot two after Jordan Devaughn (Jacksonville, FL/Flora McDonald Academy) fouled out for Sage. With 3.0 seconds left in the game, Jeter made the first and missed the second before Williams hauled in the rebound and was fouled by Sage's Alex Lilac (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls) with 1.0 left. He missed the first free throw and made the second giving his squad a 77-74 win.
For the game, four Kangaroos finished in double-digits led by Fletcher's double-double on 31 points and 15 rebounds with three blocks, three steals and 1 assist in 39 minutes of work. Williams added 16 points, while senior guard Rashad Richardson (Rochester, NY/Churchville-Chili) added 11 points and 9 rebounds off the bench. Senior guard Sam Annorh (Queens, NY/Pathways College Prep) finished with 10 points and despite hitting just one of nine field goals, was a perfect 8-8 from the line.
Mills finished with 19 points with six rebounds, two assists and four steals, while senior co-captain Marcus Patterson (Bronx, NY/Mount Saint Michael Academy) added 11 points with 10 rebounds. Junior forward Barceem Dukes (Gloversville, NY/Gloversville) was one board shy from a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds. Sylvester pulled down a team-high 11 boards and dished out four assists. Junior guard Wayne Weir (Bronx, NY/Samuel Gompers) added 10 points, while Devaughn added with 11 points.
Now in his eighth season at Sage, Head Coach Brian Barnes is now 99-91 at the helm of the program and will look to garner his 100th career win this week as Sage is back in action on Wednesday, December 7 visiting nearby Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences for a 6 p.m. non-conference match-up, known as the "Battle of New Scotland Avenue." The Kangaroos of SUNY-Canton return to the hardwood on December 6 for a 7 p.m. home contest with Utica College.