ALBANY, N.Y. – Russell Sage College overcame a slow start to cruise past visiting Elmira 89-62 tonight.
RSC (10-3/3-1 E8), now winners of seven of its past eight games, had five players net double figures and led by as many as 29 in the home victory.
Elmira (4-9/0-4 E8) led 11-1 just 5:58 in before the Gators climbed back into the contest with a 12-0 run during the ensuing 3:53.
Up 42-33 at the break, RSC, which shot 54.0 percent from the field, began the second half with a 23-8 jaunt to go up by two dozen. The Gator advantage was double digits for the final 15:44.
Sophomore guard Jden Golding (Green Cove Springs, FL/Clay) led the victors with a career-high 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting.
Sophomore forward Avery Oduro-Dompreh (Elkridge, MD/Oakland Mills), who began the week ranked second in the E8 in rebounding, registered a double-double of 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting and 10 rebounds. He now has four double-doubles this season.
Junior guards Brandon Harris (Elmsford, NY/Alexander Hamilton/Herkimer CC) and Trevor Green (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh/HVCC) added 12 points apiece, while senior guard Noah Girard (Glens Falls, NY/Glens Falls) rounded out the group with 10 points.
"I was happy with the way our guys responded late in the first half after a slow start," said Head Coach Brian Barnes. "Credit Elmira coming out ready to go and building an early lead right from the start. We went into halftime with some momentum and it was great to see our defensive effort working towards getting stops. Coach Shark did a great job on the scouting report to have our guys prepared and we had great contributions from multiple guys off the bench, including Golding, Harris and strong overall minutes from Ben Aprilante. We're looking forward to two big days of preparation as we get ready for another big Empire 8 Conference weekend."
Junior guard Riley Spencer paced Elmira, now on a six-game losing streak, with 19 points. He was one of three Soaring Eagles in twin figures.
RSC continues its run of home games on Friday against Saint John Fisher.
Gator Bites: The 2024-2025 season marks the 16th for Barnes at the helm of the Gators...RSC is in the midst of a stretch (Nov. 26-Jan. 18) where it plays eight out of nine games at home…The Gators commenced the week leading the E8 in scoring defense, permitting just 60.9 points per-game...Nine returnees combine with seven newcomers on this year's edition…Girard and senior forward Todd Williamson (Schenectady, NY/Notre Dame Bishop Gibbons) were voted co-captains of this year's squad…Girard, the program's career leader for made three pointers, is on track to become just the fifth Gator to surpass 1,000 career points…He will finish his senior season ranked fifth in program records for career points, career assists, and career steals…Williamson was selected the Conference's Men's Basketball Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday, January 5…He registered team-highs of 16 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists in the home win vs. SUNY Cobleskill on January 3.
