Late turnovers land victory
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Men's Basketball
BOX SCORE: BLUE DEVILS 65, GENESEO 62
FREDONIA, N.Y. -- With three starters on the bench due to injury, freshman Joseph Monahan (Floral Park/Holy Cross) stepped up and led the Devils to a hard-fought 65-62 victory over visiting Geneseo. He finished with a career-best 20 points and added six rebounds.
Geneseo jumped out to an early lead, scoring the game's first eight points. The Devils then went to work on offense, and whittled away at the deficit.
The Devils would take their first lead, 20-19, on a Kyle Mitchell (Lake Luzerne/Hadley Luzerne) layup at 8:22.
They would lead 35-29 at the half. Monahan led all scorers with 16 points at the break, hitting four of five three-pointers. He also had a team-high five boards. Brandon Simpson had eight points for Geneseo.
In the second half, Geneseo tied the game at 40-all at 15:47 following a pair of Mike Baker free throws.
The Devils would answer with the next four points and maintain the lead – which was never more than six points – the rest of the way.
The game would, however, go right down to the wire, with turnovers playing a key role.
Following a Simpson layup at 1:47, the Blue Knights pulled within three, 62-59. The Devils’ Amir Billups (Buffalo/Starpoint) was fouled and sank the first of two free throws at 1:33 to make it 63-59.
Geneseo’s Kyle Stevens then drove to the hoop and was fouled on the layup and converted a three-point play, making it 63-62, Fredonia State.
The Knights would then force a turnover and have a chance to take the lead. Mitchell then came up with key block on Marcus Hoy, and the Devils eventually gained possession of the loose ball.
Geneseo forced another Blue Devil turnover at 55 seconds, only to give the ball right back to the Devils as Billups stole the ball and was fouled on a fast break attempt, forcing a one-and-one. He missed the free throw, and Geneseo grabbed the rebound.
Coming out of a timeout with 18.4 seconds left and down one point, Geneseo proceeded to turn the ball over trying to force the ball underneath.
Monahan was fouled at 7.6 and proceeded to sink both free throws, extending the Devils’ lead to 65-62.
Another Geneseo turnover – their fourth in four possessions - ended their chances.
In addition to Monahan, Scott Valenta (Binghamton) added 17 points and a game-high eight rebounds. James Kane (Buffalo/Bishop Timon) and Mitchell had 11 apiece. Mitchell added five blocks, as the Devils totaled 11 for the game.
Geneseo had a quartet of players in double digits. Simpson and Abe Miller had 15 each. Stevens added 12, while Baker had 11.
Geneseo falls to 4-12 overall, and 3-6 in the SUNYAC.
The Devils, now 7-8 overall and 5-4 in conference play, travel to Buffalo State on Friday.