ALBANY, N.Y. – Russell Sage College had seven players score six or more points in tonight's 73-43 home victory vs. Castleton.
The Gators (3-0) used a big first half to go undefeated in their season-opening homestand. RSC started 15-of-23 from the field to hold a 40-12 lead at the break. The Gators shot 45.8 percent (17-of-31) from the field during the first half and 51.7 percent (30-of-58) on the night. By comparison, the visiting Spartans (1-1) were 18.5 percent (5-of-27) from the field, including 1-of-14 from beyond the arc, across the opening 20 minutes.
Senior guard/forward Jackson Brown (Latham, NY/Catholic Central/Fredonia State) topped RSC with 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting. Freshman guard Deavion Springsteen (Albany, NY/Albany) and junior guard Marcus Gentile (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem Central/Utica) added 10 points each. Springsteen dished out seven assists, while Gentile was 5-of-5 from the field.
RSC, which limited Castleton to 25.0 percent (14-of-56) shooting in the home victory, held a 49-27 rebounding advantage. Senior forward Tahirou Hamidou (Bronx, NY/Carolina Basketball Academy/Livingstone) and senior center Will Ruiz (Bronx, NY/Wings Academy) grabbed eight boards each, while freshman forward Avery Oduro-Dompreh (Elkridge, MD/Oakland Mills) secured seven caroms.
Freshman guard Zach Thompson paced the Spartans with 11 points.
RSC plays on the road for the first time this year on Saturday at SUNY Poly. The non-conference game is set to begin at 2:00 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), Brown, and junior forward Todd Williamson (Schenectady, NY/Notre Dame Bishop Gibbons) helped the Gators get off to a 3-0 start…Brown tops RSC with 14.0 points per-game on 44.8 percent shooting...Girard averages 11.0 points and 2.3 assists, while Williamson contributes 8.0 points per-game, and 5.7 rebounds per-game...Freshman center Khalel Noteman (Brooklyn, NY/Canarsie) was picked as the Empire 8 Conference Rookie of the Week for the period ending Sunday, November 12...He averaged 5.0 points on 45.5 percent shooting and 5.0 rebounds during a 2-0 week.
