Clarkson Crushes Canton in Opener of NCI

Nik Marquis was one of six Golden Knights scoring in double figures in the win over Canton with 11 points - photo by Gary Mikel

Potsdam, NY – Every player on the Clarkson University Men’s Basketball roster recorded at least one field goal as the Golden Knights decimated SUNY Canton 103-62 in the North Country Invitational opener Friday night at Alumni Gymnasium.

The Golden Knights improved to 2-0 on the season, and move on to the championship game of the tournament at 3:00 pm on Saturday against Potsdam State, who beat the College of St. Joseph 74-59 in the nightcap.

Though Clarkson’s defense struggled at the start of the half, its offense more than compensated as the Golden Knights shot nearly 60 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes (21-for-36), including a 10-for-17 performance that bettered their percentage from inside the arc. Guards Rey Jefferson (Budd Lake, NJ) and Felix Llanos (Queens, NY) barely played half of the opening period, but each recorded double figures with 11 points each. Freshman Pat Mott (Moravia, NY) added in nine points on 3-for-3 shooting, all from beyond the 3-point line. Classmate Marques Charlton (Deer Park, NY) tossed in seven points, two assists and a steal, going 3-for-4 from the field. For Canton, Tony Valentin led the squad with 11 points.

Starting the second half, Clarkson continued to get easy baskets, both in transition and on sets, as the Knights superior size and speed made for open looks inside and on the perimeter. Following a basket late in the second half, the Knights pushed their lead beyond 40 points and held that advantage for the remainder of the contest. Clarkson’s 103 points was the most since the 2001-02 season, a stretch of 234 games. The 41-point margin of victory was the largest since the 2001-02 season, a stretch of 232 games.

Clarkson had six players finish in double figures, led by Jefferson’s 14 points. Llanos, Mott, and Nik Marquis (Irvington, NJ) each added 11 points, while Charlton and Shawn Lasalita (San Diego, CA) each produced 10 points. More impressively, Clarkson had 28 assists on its 43 field goals, led by a team-best seven from Marques Charlton.

Tony Valentin produced a game-high 18 points for the Kangaroos, while Irving Cato added 14 points. Silvon John and Jajuan Williams each added 11 points.

In game two, the Bears and Saints played a rough and tumble game with numerous fouls and turnovers throughout the contest. Neither team could make much headway as far as offense went, with St. Joseph's shooting 26.1% (6-for-23) and Potsdam plugging away at 32.3% (10-for-31). The two teams combined for 28 fouls and 34 turnovers in the opening 20 minutes.

In the second half, though the fouls and miscues continued, Potsdam began to assert itself offensively inside, taking advantage of offensive rebounds for multiple chances. The Saints were within five points (60-55) late, but Potsdam ended the contest with a 14-4 run for the 15-point victory.

Anthony Williams produced a double-double off the bench for Potsdam, contributing 16 points and 12 rebounds, while fellow non-starter Josh Lambert added in 12 points for the Bears. The Saints were led by Brendan Rios, who tossed in 15 points, including three 3-point field goals in the second half. Ramel Anderson also had 10 points for St. Joe's.

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