Potsdam, NY – A double-double from Elson Pickering (Brooklyn, NY) and a torrid shooting performance from Keith Murray (Queens, NY) lifted the Clarkson University Men’s Basketball team to a 76-62 win over Cazenovia College in the season-opener Sunday afternoon at Alumni Gymnasium.
The Golden Knights, 1-0 overall, will face SUNY Canton at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, November 17th. Cazenovia starts the season at 0-1.
Neither team could find the bottom of the basket early in the first half, as both struggled from the perimeter and on drives to the basket. The Wildcats found themselves in early foul trouble, sending Clarkson to the line for 15 free throws, with the Knights making 10 of those shots. Those free throws were key for the Knights as they shot just 2-for-8 from beyond the 3-point arc in the half. Although Clarkson enjoyed a seven-point advantage late in the half, Cazenovia was able to make a small run in the closing minutes to finish the half trailing by two, 32-30.
Senior guard Brandon Linton (Queens, NY) led the Knights with seven points and five rebounds in the opening 20 minutes. Murray and George Koduah (Accra, Ghana) each added six points. For Cazenovia, Cameron Smith had a team-high eight points on 3-for-5 shooting.
Starting the second half, Clarkson appeared ready to push its advantage, but the Knights got into early foul trouble, committing nine to Cazenovia’s two in the first 10 minutes. Coinciding with the foul issues, Cazenovia was able to take the lead, 45-44 after a tip in by Andrew Jensen with just over 10 minutes remaining. However, Clarkson responded quickly with a three-point play by Jonathan Hood (Cortlandt Manor, NY) and a 9-0 run to re-establish a solid lead, one which the Knights would not relinquish.
Murray finished with 19 points, shooting a perfect 6-for-6 from the field in the second half. Pickering also played well with 14 points and 10 rebounds, going 6-for-9 from the floor. Linton closed with 13 points and six rebounds and Hood ended the contest with 11 points and six rebounds.
Cameron Smith led the Wildcats with 18 points and seven rebounds as Cazenovia’s only player in double figures. Darnell Sampson came off the bench in the second half and had seven points in just six minutes for Cazenovia.
