Potsdam, N.Y. - Three different players would tally more than 20 points as the Clarkson University Men's Basketball team raced past SUNY Canton 91-77 at Alumni Gymnasium, Tuesday evening. The 91 points scored in regulation marked the first time the Knights had done so against Ithaca in the 2023-24 season, in a game that eventually went to overtime.
Clarkson improves to 2-1 on the young 2025-26 campaign. The team returns to campus on Saturday, November 15th, hosting Liberty League rivals St. Lawrence University at 2 p.m.
The Roos jumped out in front early, leading 7-6 following a jumper by Chris Nastasi just under five minutes in. Steve DeRegis would go on to score 15 of Clarkson's next 17 points over the course of the next five minutes, putting the Knights firmly in the driver's seat, up 23-11. Another three by Matt Toscano at the 9:39 mark would be followed by nearly three minutes of scoreless play until Braeden Burns connected on a driving layup and went to the free throw line after being fouled just above the seven minute stamp. The ensuing shot from Burns put Clarkson up 16, their biggest lead of the half.
Canton would continue to chip away at the deficit before the half, eventually managing to get back within 7 with three minutes left off a three by Malaki Smith and then within 5 after a layup from Kolton Castrello with 1:37 remaining. Two free throws from Lorenzo Rappa and another layup by Burns in the final 90 seconds of the half put the Knights up nine, 44-35, headed into the break.
The Roos would again cut into that lead after halftime, layups from Hansen Bagdonas and Eugene Johnson Jr. in the paint saw the advantage drop to just five, two minutes in. A lay-in from Nate Abernethy and another jumper from Burns pushed the lead back up to double digits, the largest it would get until the latter stages of the contest.
An 8-2 run between the 11:20 and 10:00 minute marks helped the visitors cut the lead down to two following a trifecta from Tanner Sullivan. That would be the closest they would get though as Clarkson went on a 9-0 run of their own over the next five minutes to open the advantage back up to 12. That double-digit deficit would prove to be too much for the Roos to overcome as free throws combined with timely layups after breaking full-court pressure meant Clarkson would lead by 15 with just over a minute remaining. A late free throw cut the lead to 14 as the Knights would dribble the remaining seconds off the clock for their home-opening win.
Abernethy (25), Burns, (23) and DeRegis (23) all tallied above 20 points in the contest to lead the Knights in a balanced scoring effort. Aydin Kocak collected six boards through 26 minutes while DeRegis dished out five of the team's 13 assists overall. Edram Gbekou (11), Bryon Streb (10) and Smith (10) paced the Roos in scoring while Streb added five assists and seven rebounds. Johnson Jr. and Bagdonas also led rebounding efforts for Canton with seven boards apiece. Overall, Canton held a 32-11 advantage in bench points and a 32-28 mark in points in the paint. Clarkson would lead in points off turnovers (11-9) while shooting 57% from the field in the second half, 51% through the entire game.
