AU (8-8, 2-3 Empire 8) went into halftime down by four after junior guard Chris Lemasters (Mansfield, PA/Mansfield) banked home a three-point shot as the buzzer sounded at the end of the first period. The lead changed hands several times throughout the second half, but a strong performance from the free throw line (24-27) would help secure the Empire 8 conference win for Fisher (15-0, 5-0 Empire 8).
Sophomore center Dillon Stein (N. Huntington, PA/Norwin) and junior guard Quentin Bryant (Buffalo, NY/Seneca Vocational) each scored 15 points for the Saxons, adding six rebounds and two steels respectively. Lemasters and junior forward Ryan Hallett (Caledonia, NY/Caledonia-Mumford) also finished the game in double figures, scoring 11 points apiece.
Sophomore forward Ryan Clemenson (Ovid, NY/South Seneca) had a big game on the boards, recording 10 rebounds to go along with six points, while sophomore guard Rob McCarter (Wooster, OH/Wooster) dished out a team-high three assists.
Leading the way for Fisher was junior guard Sean O’Brien (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) who finished with 18 points and five assists. Senior forward Jeff Sidney (Herkimer, NY/Herkimer) and junior guard Mike McGee (Batavia, NY/Notre Dame) each scored 11 and Sidney grabbed six boards.
The men’s basketball team will be in action next on Friday, Jan. 28, at 8 p.m., at Elmira College. Fisher will play at Ithaca on Friday, Jan. 28, at 8 p.m.