ALBANY, N.Y. – Russell Sage College hung with visiting Saint John Fisher, the defending Empire 8 Conference Champions, for much of what became a 78-64 home setback.
The Gators (5-3/0-2 E8) utilized a balanced attack in the E8 matinee. Seven RSC players recorded six or more points, with three tallying twin figures.
Junior guard Noah Girard (Glens Falls, NY/Glens Falls) and senior guard/forward Jackson Brown (Latham, NY/Catholic Central/Fredonia State) topped the Gators with 12 points each, while senior forward Tahirou Hamidou (Bronx, NY/Carolina Basketball Academy/Livingstone) added 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting, six rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Saint John Fisher (5-3/2-0 E8) attempted to run away and hide, getting out to early advantages of 9-2 and 20-8. The Gators answered with a 20-7 run spanning 7:50 to take a 28-27 lead with 4:57 remaining in the opening half.
Junior guard Marcus Gentile (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem Central/Utica) punctuated the jaunt with a breakaway dunk off a Girard steal. He scored all of his nine points before the intermission to help RSC go into the locker room down two, 36-34.
The Cardinals regained some control with a 13-3 run to begin the second period. RSC stayed within striking distance until forward Daniel Cook, a graduate student, the three-time E8 Player of the Year, took over.
With SJFU up eight, he knocked down a three pointer with 3:19 remaining to stem the Gator momentum. Cook, who had a double-double of 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting and 11 rebounds, ensured the Cardinals would pick-up the road win with a steal and breakaway bucket with 1:26 to go. The preseason All-American registered 13 points and seven boards after halftime.
Senior forward Connor Recore contributed 14 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals for the victors.
RSC plays next on Saturday, December 9 at Bard. Start time is set for 4:00 PM.
Gator Bites: Head coach Brian Barnes is in his 15th season at the helm of the Gators…Seven returnees and eight newcomers comprise this year's roster…The team's co-captains: junior guard Noah Girard (Glens Falls, NY/Glens Falls), senior guard Jackson Brown (Latham, NY/Catholic Central/Fredonia State) and junior forward Todd Williamson (Schenectady, NY/Notre Dame Bishop Gibbons) helped the Gators get off to a 4-0 start…Girard began the weekend leading the Gators with 16.3 points per-game...He recorded 31 points, a career-high, on 10-of-16 shooting in the November 18 win at SUNY Poly...Brown added 13.2 points per-game, while Williamson averaged 8.0 points and 6.0 rebounds...An RSC player has taken home Empire 8 Conference Rookie of the Week honors on three occasions...Freshman center Khalel Noteman (Brooklyn, NY/Canarsie) was picked twice (November 13, November 27), while freshman guard Deavion Springsteen (Albany, NY/Albany) was chosen on November 20.
