UNBEATEN CADETS
La Salle moves to 5-0 after holding off late Lansingburgh rally
TROY, N.Y. » At the half, La Salle led by 22 points and looked headed to a routine Colonial Council win over visiting Lansingburgh.
A second half shooting clinic by the Knights changed that narrative.
Lansingburgh caught fire from 3-point range to get back into the game but La Salle made the necessary stops and free throws in the final two minutes to pull out a 66-58 win Tuesday night.
“We just know down the stretch we have to weather the storm to win,” point guard Ray Evans, who led the Cadets with 22 points, said. “Our guys did a great job of staying calm, keeping their control and not getting too flustered.”
La Salle coach Steve Sgambelluri was critical of his team at the half, despite the large lead.
“I thought ( Lansingburgh) didn’t shoot very well but we gave up a lot of opportunities we shouldn’t have,” Sgambelluri said. “One thing we said is they’re going to make a run. We had moments when it looked we weren’t going to figure it out but I have great trust in our guys.”
Isaiah Knight made three
3-pointers in the third quarter and Trevor Green had one form behind the arc to start the visitors’ comeback.
“They fought,” Lansingburgh coach Eric Loudis said. “I told them at halftime we’re not going to get it back in one shot so lets chip away. That’s what we did.”
Seth LaForest made a wide-open 3-pointer for the Cadets to push the lead at 15 early in the fourth quarter but Knights big man Justin VanNess answered with a 3-pointer of his own. The senior made an impact with his size, passing and shooting touch in the second half and scored all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter.
“He’s one of our senior guys who’s been out there before,” Loudis said of VanNess. “His presence out there made a big difference and gave us a little spark. That’s what we need.”
Green’s layup with 4:30 left in the contest made it a 10-point game then Knight made his fourth 3-pointer to cut further into the lead. However, La Salle’s Joe DeLollo answered with a quick steal and score on the other end to make it 60-51.
Van Ness made another 3-pointer after some nice ball movement to get the Knights to within 61- 56 and 1:10 left in the contest. That’s as close as the visi-
tor could get though. A deep 3-pointer from VanNess on Lansingburgh’s next possession was off-target and Evans hit enough free throws down the stretch to help the Cadets (5- 0) clinch the win and remain undefeated.
Besides going 5- for- 7 form the line in the fourth quarter, Evans ran the show for La Salle by either driving to the hoop or making the correct pass to get teammates open looks.
“I’ve been with him for three years and in my own mind, pound- for- pound there isn’t a better point guard in the Capital Region than Ray Evans,” Sgambelluri said. “His poise, his composure, his demeanor are huge weapons. Some college is going to be ultra lucky to get him.”
DeLollo finished with 14 points, LaForest had 12 and Ian Duncan put up 11.
“That’s what makes everyone excited about our team,” Evans said of the multiple scoring options. “We have so many different weapons it’s pick your poison. We just want to make sure everyone is playing hard so when the game comes it’s going to be somebody’s night.”
Knight had 18 to lead Lansingburgh followed by Mason Little with 15, VanNess with 10 and Green added nine points.
“We used a lot of energy to get back into the game,” Loudis said of his team’s rally. “We dug ourselves a big hole. They realize they can’t come out the way they did and be successful. They need to put together four complete quarters to be successful.”
It was the fifth straight win to start the season for the Cadets and the first that they did not win by double digits. The match-up of two quality teams was a welcome test for Sgambelluri.
“We were excited to play because you need games like this against quality teams who are going to push you,” Sgambelluri said. “It makes us better.”