ONEONTA, N.Y. - The Oneonta men's basketball team flexed its defensive muscle in the second half as the Red Dragons (3-0) rolled to a 76-55 win over Drew (1-1) in Saturday's Michael A. Freilich Memorial Tournament championship game. After heading into the half with a 38-32 lead, Oneonta limited the Rangers to 23 second half. 

"Our guys played inspired basketball today. They were determined to win the first-ever Michael A. Freilich tournament in honor of their former coach," said head coach Cameron Conover. "Having Meg and Mike's whole family here was great, and presenting the championship plaque to Mike's family was special. We played tough defense and gave a great overall effort." 

Two early three from Drew's Malcolm Newman and Michael Kane gave the Rangers an early 6-3 lead. Senior dished off to sophomore Graham Wooden (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta) for a mid-range jumper, but the Rangers' Howard McBurnie Jr. converted a layup to hold an 8-5 lead. First-year Caleb Brown (Brooklyn, NY/Uncommon Charter) netted a layup before an Ortale triple gave the Red Dragons their first lead at 10-8. 

Drew would tie after a pair of free throws at 14:58, but two straight layups from senior Joseph Bull (Bronx, NY/Mount St. Michael Academy) made it 14-10. The teams traded baskets, and Andrew Turco sank a three at 11:07 to cut the Oneonta lead to one. Sophomore Ryan Teaney (Schenectady, NY/Guilderland) answered with a three-pointer the following possession, but the Rangers scored the next three to regain the lead at 21-19. Drew pushed the lead to three following a James Anderson triple, but another Teaney three kept the game even. 

There were six lead changes until 2:53, when sophomore Caleb Brown (Brooklyn, NY/Uncommon Charter) scored four consecutive points to make it 33-30. Ortale scored again, and Wooden drained a trey with 37 seconds remaining to put it at 38-32.

Wooden carried over into the second half, netting a three-pointer within the first 15 seconds to begin a 10-0 Oneonta run. Drew split a pair of free throws to break the streak, but an and-one from first-year Elijah Castillo (Bronx, NY/St. Raymonds) gave the Red Dragons a 51-31 lead at 15:45. Another 10-0 span put Oneonta ahead by 26 points, and the Red Dragons led by as much as 32. 

Four Oneonta players scored in double-digits. Wooden finished with 15 points, three assists, three rebounds, and a steal. Ortale scored 14 points with two triples, eight rebounds, and five assists. Brown posted a career-high 12 points, while Bull recorded a double-double with 12 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists. Teaney also had a career-high nine points.

Drew's Newman led the Rangers with 15 points, and Kane had 11. 

Oneonta faces its first road test next week when they travel to face Keystone on Thur. Nov. 17 at 6 p.m.