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Knights run away with 86-58 win over SLU

Posted 1/10/18

Potsdam, NY – Fourteen 3-pointers from seven different shooters helped the Clarkson University Men's Basketball team break out of a mini-slump from long-range as the Golden Knights tied their …

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Knights run away with 86-58 win over SLU

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Potsdam, NY – Fourteen 3-pointers from seven different shooters helped the Clarkson University Men's Basketball team break out of a mini-slump from long-range as the Golden Knights tied their season-high in points during an 86-58 win over St. Lawrence on Tuesday evening at Alumni Gymnasium.

The Golden Knights broke into the win column in conference play with the victory, moving to 5-7 overall and 1-4 in the Liberty League. St. Lawrence fell to 3-9 overall and 1-4 in conference games. Clarkson is just beginning a lengthy home stand, and will host Union and Ithaca this weekend.

After averaging only seven 3-point makes per game in its last four games, Clarkson shot well from the get-go against St. Lawrence, hitting on five of 11 attempts in the first half. However, it was in the second half that Clarkson pulled away thanks to 3-pointers from a variety of sources. Six players hit a least one 3-pointer in the second half for the Knights.

Things got off to a slow start for both teams, as neither scored on its first two possessions, but St. Lawrence broke through with a 3-pointer at the 18:25 mark. Clarkson would tie the game 15 seconds later and would never trail again, combining an inside-outside effort that focused on Gary Hanley making moves on the block and Clarkson's shooters hitting from the perimeter, both inside the arc and out. There was never one big run that led to the Golden Knights rolling out to a double digit lead, just a steady run with drives to the basket and 3-point field goals. Clarkson did end the half with a fastbreak dunk from Matt Higgins, giving the Knights a 16-point lead at intermission.

Matthew Hornak hit a 3-pointer from the corner in the early portion of the second half to put Clarkson up by 19 and a few moments later the Knights led by 20-plus. That would be the case for most of the second half, as St. Lawrence was able to get within less than 20 for only a total of 54 seconds in the final 17 minutes of the game.

Sophomore Matt Higgins led the Knights with 21 points, scoring 14 of his game-high total in the second half, marking his third consecutive 20-point game. Playing extended minutes for the first time all season, freshman Jason Phelps scored 11 points in 21 minutes, including three 3-point field goals. Liam Ellis also added 11 points while Gary Hanley picked up his first double-double of the season, recording 11 points and 10 rebounds. It marked the fifth time in the past six games that Hanley has reached double digits in rebounds.

For St. Lawrence, Ben Crawford had a double-double on 11 points and 10 boards and Chris Miner scored a team-best 15 points. Dom DeRegis also chipped in 11 points for the Saints.