The Oswego State men's basketball team dominated the glass to persevere through 34 turnovers as it defeated New Jersey City University 69-65 in the first round of the Max Ziel Tournament on Friday night in Oswego. The Lakers out-rebounded the Gothic Knights 44-19 and shot 50 percent from the field on 25-for-50 to came away with their first win of the season. Chad Burridge (So., Hannibal, N.Y.) led all scorers with 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting, while teammate Hayden Ward (Fr., Montauk, N.Y.) corralled 17 rebounds.

Oswego State clung to a 27-25 lead before putting together a 9-1 run behind a three-pointer by Jose Uribe (Jr., Queens, N.Y.), a layup by Hayden Ward, and four points from senior Stanley Francois (Valley Cottage, N.Y.) to go ahead by 10 points at 36-26 with 2:39 remaining in the first half.  However, New Jersey City scored the final five points of the period to head into the locker room trailing 39-33 despite 22 Laker turnovers.

The Oswego State men's basketball team lost its season opener 82-71 to Utica at Max Ziel Gymnasium on Tuesday night. Second half shooting proved to be the difference in the contest as the Pioneers shot 55.2 percent from the field on 16-of-29 shooting, while the Lakers went 14-of-39 for 35.9 percent. Utica forward Patrick Goodman led all players with 27 points and 14 rebounds. Oswego State was led offensively by Chad Burridge's (So., Hannibal, N.Y.) 25 points.

The first half was a seesaw battle that featured seven ties as neither team held a lead greater than four points after the first minute of play.  Kevin Johnson went coast-to-coast for a layup after grabbing a defensive rebound with 38 seconds left in the period to give the Pioneers a slim 37-35 lead at halftime.

Fans of SUNY Athletic Conference men’s basketball may need a program early in the season for the 2009-10 Oswego State men’s basketball team as it boasts a roster with ten sophomores and freshmen to go along with new head coach Adam Stockwell. Coach Stockwell will look to captains Stanley Francois and Chad Burridge, the 2008-09 SUNYAC Rookie of the Year, to help the Lakers achieve aspirations of a league title and receiving the program’s first NCAA National Tournament bid. However, Oswego State will have to have a quick learning curve as the squad adjusts to the new defensive and offensive schemes implemented by the coaching staff and gains collegiate game experience at nearly every position on the floor.

Head Coach Adam Stockwell has been encouraged by what he has seen in practice thus far from the two seniors, one junior, five sophomores, and five freshmen that have already developed strong team chemistry. Whatever the team may lack in game experience, Coach Stockwell feels the team can make up for in depth.  He wants to utilize a nine-man rotation to take advantage of the speed and size of his players in every facet of the game. 

Oswego State freshman forward Chad Burridge (Hannibal/Hannibal) and senior guard Tommy Downing (Staten Island/Curtis), have each been honored by the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) on its 2008-09 Division III Upstate All-Star Team. Burridge was named the ECAC Division III Upstate Rookie of the Year, while Downing garnered second team honors.

Individual accolades continue to pour in for the Oswego State men’s basketball team as freshman Chad Burridge (Hannibal) and senior Tommy Downing (Staten Island/Curtis) garnered postseason regional honors from two organizations this week.  Burridge was named the East Region Rookie of the Year by D3Hoops.com, while Downing earned second team East Region honors by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) on its Division III All-District Teams.