The first half featured 14 lead changes but Oswego took command towards the end of the half leading by as many as six points with 2:22 remaining. Todd Franze scored eight first half points to guide the Lakers to a three-point halftime lead. Franze closed out the evening with 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the floor.
The first eight minutes of the second half were controlled by the Lakers, who took a five points lead with just over sixteen minutes left on four consecutive points by Franze.
UC would not let the Lakers take over the game and Herring was determined to guide the Pioneers to their seventh consecutive victory. He hit a 3-pointer to tie the game up at 41-41 with 12:42 remaining. Senior forward Jack Lighthall (Adirondack/Boonville) gave UC its first lead of the second half on a lay up with 11:40 left. Lighthall tallied 10 points and six rebounds on the night.
Senior forward and reigning All-American Ray Bryant (Manhattan/Utica) knocked down a baseline jumper with 5:25 left in the game to give UC a 54-52 lead. On the Pioneers next possession Herring hit a jump shot of the dribble and UC led by four points.
Kyle Rutter sparked the Lakers in the second half, scoring 17 points off the bench, including a pivotal four-point play with just over three minutes reaming to tie the game at 56-56.
Bryant, who tallied 19 points and 11 rebounds, rocketed through the lane and scored off a Herring pass with 57 seconds left to give UC a 60-58 lead. Franze answered right back with a lay in of his own.
Eric Roberson hit two key free throws with 10 seconds left to give the Lakers a one point lead, but Herring marched down the court and hit the game-winner to catapult the Pioneers to their tenth win in eleven games. Roberson scored ten points on 4-of-six shooting from behind the arc on the evening.
UC (13-2, 5-0 Empire 8) took a commanding lead in the Empire 8 after St. John Fisher College lost to Alfred University tonight. The Pioneers return to action Friday against host RIT at 8 p.m. Oswego (9-8, 5-3 SUNYAC) returns to action Friday at 8 p.m. against visiting Cortland St.
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