March 10, 2023

Still Dancing! Oswego Earns First Trip To Elite 8 in Program History

Oswego Sports Information Department

ASHLAND, V.A. – The Oswego State Men's Basketball team traveled to Randolph-Macon College to take on the number one seeded Yellow Jackets. The Lakers marched into Crenshaw Stadium and knocked the Yellow Jackets out of tournament play. Your Oswego State Lakers are still dancing and have danced their way into the Elite 8 for the first time in school history!

TICKETS FOR TOMORROW!!!

ALL TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED AT https://events.ticketspicket.com/agency/278061dd-baf7-435b-b70e-c1aee5a182fa

NO TICKETS WILL BE SOLD AT THE DOOR, ALL TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED ONLINE AT THE LINK ABOVE!

THE BASICS

Final Score: #6 Oswego State (28-2, 19-1 SUNYAC), #1 Randolph-Macon (29-2, 16-0)

Location: Crenshaw Gymnasium, Ashland, VA

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Lakers played a near perfect first half of play, controlling and leading in almost every major statistical category.
In the first ten minutes of the first, the Lakers jumped out to an 11-point lead over the Yellow Jackets. Oswego was able to hold onto their lead and would lead the Yellow Jackets by 12 at the half, with a score of 38-26.
The Lakers found success on both ends of the floor in the half, shooting 56% from the field while limiting Randolph-Macon to just 30.6% from the field. Oswego was able to connect on 50% of their three-point attempts, while limiting the Yellow Jackets to just 18.8%.
Ahkee Anderson led the way for the Lakers in the first, going 7-9 from the field with 16 points, adding two steals on defense which both converted to fast-break points.
Jeremiah Sparks came to life in the second half, recording 15 second half points.
Randolph-Macon had to foul the Lakers late in the game to give themselves a chance to stay alive. The Lakers refused to let the reigning national champions back into the game, with the help of several clutch free throws by Sparks. Sparks converted on 90% of his free throw attempts, hitting seven free throws in the final 1:16 of play.
Cartier Bowman secured the game winning rebound with 11 seconds left of play, and passed it upcourt to Devin Green, who ran out the final seconds of the game.
The Oswego defense was lights out throughout the contest, holding the #1 ranked Yellow Jackets to just 38.6% of their field goal attempts throughout the entire game. From behind the arc, the Lakers held them to just a 20.7% conversion rate.
The Lakers defeated the reigning national champions by a score of 74-63. Oswego's win snapped two remarkable streaks by the Yellow Jackets, one being a 64 home game win streak dating back to 2018, the other being a 27 game win streak.
Leading the way for the Lakers on offense was none other than Jeremiah Sparks, who finished with 24 points. Ahkee Anderson was right behind Sparks with 22 points. Also getting into double digit scoring was Devin Green, who finished with 13.
Jamal Achille and Green were the x-factors on the glass, finishing with 15 total rebounds combined, and helped the Lakers win the rebound margin over Randolph-Macon which was a key to defeating the Yellow Jackets.
The Lakers broke two records of their own this evening. One record being most wins in a single season, which was set last season.
They also broke a record that has stood for over SIXTY years. That record being most consecutive wins in a season. The Lakers have now won 25 in a row, which has obliterated their record that has stood since the 1958-1959 season when they recorded 19 straight wins.
With more work to do, the Lakers will turn around tomorrow at 7pm, looking to continue making history for the Oswego State Lakers Men's Basketball program.