SYRACUSE – A little more than 72 hours after surrendering a 22-point second half lead, The College of Saint Rose men's basketball team closed out an 85-72 Northeast-10 Conference victory at Le Moyne College by outscoring the host Dolphins 23-6 over an eight-minute span late in the second half. The Golden Knights (7-2/4-2 NE-10) scored 50 points in the second stanza alone and thus won for the first time in three years on the Dolphins' home floor.

Saint Rose had five players reach double-figures in scoring for the third time this year. Junior guard Rob Gutierrez led the scoring parade with 19 points. Junior forward Brian Hanuschak registered his fourth “double-double” of the year behind 16 points and 13 rebounds, sophomore guard Andre Pope had 14 points and seven assists while junior forward Sheldon Griffin tossed in a season-high 13 points and tied his best performance of the year with eight boards.

Additionally, sophomore forward Devin Grimes contributed a season-best 10 points in 15 minutes of reserve action.

Senior forward Kevin Roth paced Le Moyne with 22 points, six rebounds and four assists. The backcourt duo of junior guards James Cormier and Chris Johnson chipped in with 17 and 10 points while combining for five, 3-pointers.

Things were deadlocked 35-35 at the break and the two clubs played through five ties in the early stages of the second half until Saint Rose took command. It was just a two possession ballgame with the Golden Knights up 56-50 following a pair of free throws by Roth at the 12:44 mark. Griffin then ignited a 14-2 outburst that covered a five minute span and Saint Rose assumed control, 70-52, with 7:11 left.

The Golden Knights extended their lead to 23 points, 79-56, after Griffin buried back-to-back free throws with four and a half minutes to go to all but secure their fourth league victory in six outings. Saint Rose took advantage of a 25-11 margin in second chance points while burying 21-of-37 field goal attempts over the final 20 minutes.

Looking ahead, the Golden Knights have an 11-day layoff before heading to Adelphi University to play in a Holiday Tournament hosted by the Panthers in Garden City. Saint Rose will meet Dowling College at 5:30 pm on Saturday, December 18 before taking on Molloy College the next day. Le Moyne gets back to the hardwood Saturday with a 7:00 pm non-conference affair at Mansfield.

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