PITTSFORD, N.Y. – Russell Sage College erupted for season-highs in points, field goal percentage, three-pointers, and three-point percentage to spoil Saint John Fisher's "Senior Day" 93-82.

The Gators, heading back to the Empire 8 Conference Championship Tournament for the first time since 2022, shot 54.1 percent from the field, and made 12 three-pointers to sweep the season series from the 10-time E8 Conference champs for the first time.

RSC, the top defense in the E8, led for 92.3 percent of the Saturday matinee, including by as many as 19 in the first half.  After SJFU climbed back into the contest in the second half, getting to within one, 81-80, with 2:36 left, the Gators, which had four players score in double figures. went 6-for-6 at the foul line to seal the road victory.

"I'm really proud of our group today for sticking together when we hit adversity and when the game got tough," said Head Coach Brian Barnes.  "I thought we had good balance with four players in double figures. We shared the ball well and that allowed us to score more than we usually do and at efficient percentages. The last two minutes of the game we had excellent game management and got the stops we needed to win the game." 

Sophomore guard Jden Golding (Green Cove Springs, FL/Clay) tallied a career-high 21 points on 6-of-13 shooting to top RSC. 

Senior guard Noah Girard (Glens Falls, NY/Glens Falls), who had 18 points on 5-of-10 shooting, continued to achieve career milestones against the Cardinals this season.  After becoming just the fifth RSC player to surpass 1,000 career points in the January 17 home win, the co-captain dished out the 200th assist of his career this afternoon.

Junior guard Brandon Harris (Elmsford, NY/Alexander Hamilton/Herkimer CC) added 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting, six rebounds and three assists, while sophomore forward Avery Oduro-Dompreh (Elkridge, MD/Oakland Mills), who began the week leading the Conference in blocks per-game and was ranked third in the E8 in rebounding, registered 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting, five rebounds, and three assists.  The forward helped keep seven-foot center Connor Williams, who tops SJFU in scoring, to zero points and just five rebounds. 

Junior guard Trevor Green (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh/HVCC), back in the RSC lineup, recorded team-highs of seven rebounds and six assists.

Senior guard Eric Kegler paced SJFU (7-17/3-12 E8) with 30 points on 10-of-15 shooting.

RSC (15-9/8-7 E8) concludes its regular season on Tuesday at Hartwick.  The Gators will then play in an E8 Championship Tournament Quarterfinal at a to-be-determined opponent on Saturday, February 22.

Gator Bites: The 2024-2025 season marks the 16th for Barnes at the helm of the Gators...RSC clinched its fourth appearance in the E8 Championship Tournament with Friday's win at Nazareth...The E8 Tournament begins Saturday, February 22...The Gators, which boast the top defense in the E8, finish the regular season with seven of the final ten, including six of the last seven, games away from home…The Gators got off to a 12-3 record, their best start to a season since 2014-15…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, became just the fifth Gator to surpass 1,000 career points in the home win vs. Saint John Fisher on January 17…He moved into third place on the program's career scoring list on February 8 at Utica…The co-captain, who concluded the weekend with 1,136 career points, is guaranteed to finish his senior season ranked in the top-three in RSC records for career points, career assists, and career steals…Girard registered 17.0 points per-game on 45.8 percent shooting in the 2-0 weekend...Williamson was selected the E8 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…Oduro-Dompreh is a presence in the post for the Gators...The forward began the week leading the Conference in blocks per-game and was ranked third in the E8 in rebounding…Harris was announced as the E8 Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday, February 2…He averaged 25.3 points on 50.8 percent shooting across three games.