KNIGHTS 7-GAME WIN STREAK SNAPPED BY SLU

January 27, 2004

Canton, NY - Thanks to a 12-0 run late in the first half, St. Lawrence became the first team in the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Conference (UCAA) to send the Clarkson University Men's Basketball team with a loss when they Saints downed the visiting Golden Knights 64-54 Tuesday night at Burkman Gymnasium.

Clarkson, which moved to 10-6 overall and 4-1 in the UCAA after the Saints snapped their seven-game winning streak, still is in a tie for first place in the UCAA with Rensselaer, whom the Knights beat this past weekend.

Clarkson won the first half with a 30-25 advantage and increased their lead to seven points after a layup from Russ Vitallo (Dracut, MA) in the opening minute of the second 20 minutes, but Vitallo went down with a leg injury and would not return. The Saints jumped on the opportunity and ran off with a 13-0 run to take a 38-32 lead. The Golden Knights rallied back on a pair of 3-pointers from Josh Harner (Houston, TX) to cut the lead 41-40. After Clarkson took control again with a 48-47 lead, the Saints went on a 12-0 run with several inside scores to take an 11-point advantage which they would not relinquish, despite a late charge from Clarkson in the final minute.

Nick Jones (Washington, DC) shot 6-for-13 from the floor to score 13 points to lead Clarkson. Jones also aded three steals, two assists and two rebounds, but foul trouble in the second half kept him and Clarkson from keeping the game closer. Harner added 11 points, including three 3-pointers, and five rebounds for Clarkson while Kevin Williams (Syracuse, NY) contributed eight points and six rebounds.

The Golden Knights losing margin could nearly have been made up at the free throw line, as Clarkson struggled with a 6-for-18 performance, including 4-for-13 in the second half. The Saints had no such trouble, making 15-for-19 for the game and 11 of their 13 attempts in the second half.

Clarkson returns to action this weekend when they visit UCAA foes Hamilton and Hobart on Friday and Saturday.

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