ONEONTA, N.Y. – Russell Sage College defeated Worcester State 80-71 on the opening night of the Quality Inn Tip-Off Tournament, hosted by Oneonta State.
The Gators (2-0), which shot 50.0 percent from the field, had four players score in double figures in the neutral site win. Senior guard Jalon Borders (Bartow, FL/Bartow), who moved into seventh place on the program's career scoring list tonight, topped the quartet with 17 points.
Senior forward Jason Geronimo (Orlando, FL/Colonial) (above) registered a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds, while sophomore forward/center Will Ruiz (Bronx, NY/Wings Academy) and junior forward Charles Davis (Bronx, NY/Fannie Lou Hamer) contributed 13 points and 10 points respectively.
RSC, which doubled up Worcester State (1-2) on points in the paint, 52-26, led for the final 25:13 of the contest. The Gators turned the tide with a first-half closing 15-7 run.
In the second half, RSC managed to keep the Lancers at bay throughout; eventually utilizing a 13-4 run to go up 17, 80-63, with 1:45 remaining.
Guard Chris Cardoso, a grad student, led Worcester State with 20 points. Center Erik Bjorn, also a grad student, added a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Sage will face Oneonta State in the Tournament's Championship Game tomorrow afternoon. Tip-off is slated for 3:00 pm.
Notes: The Gators have 11 players back in the fold this year…Senior guard Jalon Borders (Bartow, FL/Bartow), a two-time first-team All-Empire 8 Conference pick, headlines the group…He passed Ryan Sager '13 for seventh on the program's career points tonight…Next on the list for Borders, now with 727 points, is Kai Deans '15 at 826.…Senior forward/center Stuart Phair (Canberra, Australia/Tyler Christian School), who ranks third in program annals with 67 career blocks, and senior forward Jason Geronimo (Orlando, FL/Colonial) are captains on the year's team…Head Coach Brian Barnes, now in his 13th season, added four players to the program.
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