The St. Lawrence men's basketball team defeated Bard 68-61 on Friday night in Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y.

Trent Adamson had a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double, and Trey Syroka scored 14 points and had seven assists to lead the Saints. Adamson had a five block game for the third time this season.

The Saints used their size and length to keep the Raptors out of the paint. Bard shot over half of their field goals from beyond the arc. This led to a discrepancy in free throws. Since the Saints attacked the rim more, they got to the line more, and shot 28 more free throws in the game.

The first half got off to a slow start, after an early layup from Trey Syroka, it took almost six minutes for the Saints to score again. Neither team was able to get much separation, but St. Lawrence scored nine of the final ten points in the half to go into the break leading 36-29.

The Saints worked to extend scoreline in the second half, and twice pushed their lead to 13, but Bard junior Elliot Harris hit five second-half 3-pointers, which kept the game close. His fifth of the half came with under three minutes to go and make it a two possession ball game at 65-59, but the Saints defense held fast in the final minutes and allowed just two more points.

"Bard was a physical and aggressive team," said assistant coach Marques Charlton. "Besides giving up a few too many threes, the guys came up big down the stretch and weathered the storm." 

Harris led the Raptors with 20 points, including six from deep. The team came down with 43 rebounds compared to St. Lawrence's 39.

The Saints shot 34 free throws, making 67-percent of them. Adamson went 8-9 from the line, and Aidan Macaulay shot 6-8.

Records: St. Lawrence (8-2, 3-1), Bard (4-6, 0-4)
Up next: at Vassar College on January 8 at 4 p.m.