Dan Anderson had 13 points in his Saints debut and Adam Dudzinski hit two game-winning free throws with 1:06 left in the game as the St. Lawrence University men's basketball team downed the Oswego State Lakers in a 45-44 statement victory to open their season Wednesday night in Burkman Gymnasium.

The Saints start the season 1-0, beating the Lakers in non-conference action after falling on the road to Oswego 66-58 last year. The Lakers finished last season with a 26-3 record, an 18-0 mark in the SUNYAC regular season, and a NCAA tournament berth.

"That was a good basketball team," said Chris Downs, the Saints' head coach. "Oswego went out and added three good upperclass transfers to compliment three returners. They also have three or four first-years who are really impressive players. Ahkee Anderson of Oswego is as good a player as we'll play all season. We now need to regroup, look forward to our next challenge, and get everyone feeling good ahead of a very important game against Clarkson."

The Saints controlled a lead for the first 10 minutes of the game, using their defense to hold the Lakers to just nine points and scoring 10 themselves. However, Oswego obtained their first lead at 11-10 with 9:42 in the first half remaining. The Saints tied it up at 16 a few minutes later off of a layup by Andrew Cowan.

With 3:21 remaining in the half, the Lakers got out to a 22-17 lead, the largest for either team up to that point, although St. Lawrence got some consistent offense in their final few possessions of the half. A three pointer by Aiden Macaulay and layups from Gavin Macaulay and Anderson made the score 25-24 Oswego at half time.

The Scarlet and Brown started the second half with five straight points off of two points from Cowan and three from Anderson to take a 29-25 advantage. Anderson had another three with 16:32 left to give the Saints a 32-27 lead, which was their largest of the game.

A 9-4 run by the Lakers then tied it at 36 with 9:46 to go. A few minutes later, the Lakers got out in front, but the Saints responded with five straight points off of a three-pointer from Dudzinski and a layup by Anderson. Oswego went on to tie it at 43 with 4:00 to go.

In the game's late stages, Dudzinski cashed in two free throws with 1:06 to go to push St. Lawrence ahead 45-43. Then Gary McLane went to the line for the Lakers, missed the first free throw, but got the second to go to bring the game to 45-44.

On the Lakers final possession, the Scarlet and Brown pressured Oswego heavily, never allowing the Lakers to get the ball inside the three point line. The Lakers were forced to take a contested fade away three-pointer as the timer expired. The shot clinked off the front of the rim and the Saints walked away with a one-point victory.



Andrew Cowan had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, finishing second and first on the team in those respective categories. Aiden Macaulay contributed with four assists to lead the Saints and Troy McPherson had four steals off the bench.

As a team, the Saints held the Lakers to a 25 per cent field goal percentage and 4-29 from beyond the arc.

The Saints will be back in action as they face rival Clarkson in their Liberty League opener Saturday, November 16. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.