Sports Information Department – 112 Dods Hall
Phone (716) 673-3100 / Fax (716) 673-3136

CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
Sports Information Director

DATE: Thur., Nov. 18, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Men's Basketball

Junior-laden Devils looking for better things

FREDONIA, N.Y. – The Fredonia State men’s basketball team took a step back last season.

Finishing 13-12 and earning a SUNYAC post-season berth featuring a freshman-heavy roster two years ago, the team dropped to 10-15 and 6-10 in the SUNYAC and missed the conference tournament in 2003-04.

With the bulk of the squad back from those two seasons, the addition of some quality transfers, the team expects to a return to the post-season.

"We had a disappointing year last year," head coach Kevin Moore said. "The team is determined not to let that happen again."

They Blue Devils will get to test themselves right away when they open the season Fri., Nov. 19 at the University of Rochester against the No. 5 ranked Yellowjackets in the first round of the Chuck Resler Invitational. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. A webcast will be available via Rochester radio station WYSL at http://www.wysl1040.com/.

The Blue Devils’ hopes rest on six returning juniors and three junior college transfers, two of which were all-region selections with their previous teams.

Last year's leading scorer, 6-3 guard Tim Anderson (Jamestown/Jamestown), is back for his junior season. Anderson averaged 11.7 ppg. while displaying the ability to score both from in close and far range. His 28 three-point baskets was third on the team while his six games of 20 points or more led the Blue Devils.

Anderson also logged the most minutes among the returning players (an average of 26.6 per game) and led the team with 38 steals.

Another one of the juniors is 6-8 center Nate Sanzo (Westfield/Westfield). The team's lone returning inside player, Sanzo averaged 11.3 points and a team-high 5.6 rebounds last season. The big man led the SUNYAC in field goal percentage (62.8%) and shots blocked (44).

Keeping Sanzo out of foul trouble is one of the keys to the Blue Devil season. Behind him, Moore will turn to 6-6 freshman Steve Galatio ((Hilton/Hilton), whose transition to the college game is another key to the season. The left-handed Galatio had a solid prep career, and according to coach Moore, has gotten a lot stronger over the summer.

"He's looked good in (preseason) practice," Moore said. "But he's only a freshman."

The next tallest post player is 6-6 junior Matt Richmond (Henderson/Belleville-Henderson), a transfer from Jefferson Community College.

Chris Donahue (Olean/Olean) averaged 8.0 ppg. while displaying the best outside touch on the team. Also a junior, Donahue canned a team-high 49 three-pointers. A fourth junior, Devin Watkins (Franklinville/Franklinville), was second in the three-point department with 32. He averaged 6.1 ppg. - fourth among the returning players.

The Blue Devils may likely find another scoring source from among the juco ranks. Randall Thomas (Bronx/Ryan Academy, Va.), a junior transfer from Tomkins-Cortland Community College, averaged 21.4 points per game. An all-region player, Thomas has good shooting range and the ability to penetrate and score. He should help improve an offense that averaged 65 points per game, ninth in the SUNYAC.

The other juco transfer is junior Gary Mosley (Hudson/North Springs), a 6-3 all-region forward last season at Columbia- Greene C.C. Moore like what he sees in Mosley: "He plays bigger than his size indicates, and could start at power forward," the coach said. "He also rebounds well and has a three-point touch."

Other options at forward are Richmond, sophomore Kevin Reichlmayr (Rochester/Aquinas Institute), and freshman Kyle Gordon (Canandaigua/Canandaigua). Richmond has two years of college experience under his belt, but took last year off to finish his associate's degree at Jefferson C.C. An athletic player, he is expected to contribute more as the season moves on. Reichlmayr saw limited action in 13 games last year after being called up from the Baby Blues. Gordon has the ability to play the forward and center positions off the bench.

The point will be run this year by sophomore Taha Alassari (Amherst/Sweet Home) and junior Chris Kensy (Cheektowaga/Maryvale). Alassari gained much experience last season and saw his playing time increase as the season went on. He appeared in 23 games off the bench and averaged just over 13 minutes per contest, dishing out 30 assists and averaging 5.4 ppg. Kensy is expected to see his share of action at the point. He appeared in 23 games last season, registering 24 points and 24 assists.

Accompanying that duo in the frontcourt will be Chris Rube (Floral Park/Floral Park), the team's only senior. The 6-footer earned eight starts last year.

Junior Pat Brann (Elmira/Southside) and sophomores Mike Kelly (Corning/Corning East) and Matt Moore (Fredonia/Fredonia) are expected to contribute off the bench.

2004-05 Schedule
HOME
Nov. 23 - D'Youville, 8 p.m.; Nov. 30 - Brockport*, 8 p.m.; Dec. 3 - New Paltz*, 8 p.m.; Dec. 4 - Oneonta*, 4 p.m.; Dec. 9 - Pitt Bradford, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 18 - Geneseo*, 8 p.m.; Jan. 28 - SUNYIT*, 8 p.m.; Jan. 29 - Plattsburgh*, 4 p.m.; Feb. 15 - Buffalo State*, 8 p.m.; Feb. 19 - Cortland*, 8 p.m.
AWAY
Nov. 19 - at Rochester, 8 p.m.; Nov 21 - vs. Dennison or Stevens Tech at Rochester, 1 or 8 p.m.; Dec. 7 - at St, John Fisher, 8 p.m.; Dec. 11 - at Penn State Behrend, 8 p.m.; Jan. 8 - at Thiel, 3 p.m.; Jan 11 - at Medaille, 8 p.m.; Jan. 14 - at Oswego*, 8 p.m.; Jan. 15 - at Cortland*, 4 p.m.; Jan. 21 - at Plattsburgh*, 8 p.m.; Jan. 22 - at Potsdam*, 4 p.m.; Feb. 1 - at Buffalo State*, 8 p.m.; Feb. 4 - at Brockport*, 8 p.m.; Feb. 12 - at SUNYIT*, 8 p.m.; Feb. 18 - at Geneseo*, 8 p.m.

* SUNYAC game

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