ALBANY, N.Y. – Russell Sage College men's basketball takes the court for its season opener on Tuesday night. The Gators, which have 11 players back in the fold this year, host Elms at 7:00 pm.
"Our coaches and players are excited for the upcoming season and continuing our mission of living out our five program core values (growth-driven, togetherness, positivity, dependability, and caring)," said Head Coach Brian Barnes. "We will look to establish our identity as a strong defensive unit, a relentless offensive rebounding team, and a group that plays together in an all-out offensive pace we have termed 'Full Throttle'. We have great upperclassman leadership in place and our team has shown a strong commitment to what it takes for success in the Empire 8 Conference."
Senior guard Jalon Borders (Bartow, FL/Bartow) headlines the group of returnees. Opposing coaching staffs will have to account for the two-time first-team All-Conference selection. He topped the Gators in scoring with 15.5 points per-game during the abbreviated 2020-21 season.
Senior guard Amani Cummings (Brooklyn, NY/Transit Tech), and senior forward/center Stuart Phair (Canberra, Australia/Tyler Christian School) are back in Green and White. Cummings averaged 15.1 points, 2.8 assists, and 2.4 rebounds to earn third-team All-E8 honors last season. Phair, a co-captain, enters the campaign third in school records with 64 career blocks.
Rounding out the group of returnees are: sophomore guard Pierce Trop (Hollywood, FL/Chaminade Madonna), junior forward Charles Davis (Bronx, NY/Fannie Lou Hamer), sophomore guard Elijah Perez (Bronx, NY/Adlai E. Stevenson), sophomore forward El Hadji Iba Sy (Bronx, NY/Emma Lazarus), senior guard Ryan Long (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park), senior guard Tyler Mitchell (Bronx, NY/All Hallows), senior forward Jason Geronimo (Orlando, FL/Colonial), also a co-captain, sophomore forward/center Will Ruiz (Bronx, NY/Wings Academy), senior forward/center Fethener Aime (Palm Coast, FL/Flagler Palm Coast), and forward/center Josh Gonzalez (Albany, NY/Canajoharie), a grad student.
Barnes, now in his 13th season, has added four players: to the program. The quartet is comprised of: freshmen guards Joash Beaton (Queens, NY/Nazareth), Noah Girard (Glens Falls, NY/Glens Falls), and Troy Snyder (Cohoes, NY/Cohoes), and freshman forward Todd Williamson (Schenectady, NY/Notre Dame Bishop Gibbons).
The Gators, coming off back-to-back E8 Tournament appearances, have 25 games on the docket this season. RSC has non-conference foes Elms, Castleton (Nov. 17), MCLA (Nov. 30), SUNY Cobleskill (Dec. 2) and SUNY Delhi (Dec. 7) due to visit Kahl Gymnasium. E8 Conference play begins on Tuesday, Jan. 4 at Hartwick.
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