ONEONTA, N.Y. - In a physical conference matchup, Oswego's Jeremiah Sparks netted a game-high 31 points to lead the No. 20 Lakers to a 76-68 victory over the Red Dragons on Friday evening in Dewar Arena. Three Oneonta players scored in double-digits, but Oswego used a solid second half to secure the win. The Lakers move to 14-2 overall and 8-1 in the SUNYAC, while the Red Dragons slip to 10-6 and 6-3 in the conference. 

"I thought we played tough tonight. Unfortunately for us, they made a few more plays down the stretch than we did," said head coach Cameron Conover. "We can't feel sorry for ourselves because we have a very tough opponent coming into our building tomorrow. It should be another good game."

Neither side took more than an eight-point lead for the entire night in one of the more tightly contested games this season. After first-year Delano Knox (Poughkeepsie, NY/Arlington) scored inside to tie 4-4, Oswego's Devin Green followed with a triple at 16:19. Senior Daniel Derice (Tampa, FL/Wesley Chapel) picked up a layup to make it a one-point game, but Sparks began a 5-0 run after draining a triple. Another Sparks' three-pointer at 13:24 pushed the Lakers' lead to 15-9. Oswego took its largest lead of the half at 17-9 following an inside basket by Jamal Achille. 

Jump shots from senior Michael Ortale Jr. (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem Central) and Derice brought the score within three points, and then the Red Dragons used a 6-0 with scores from Elijah Castillo (Bronx, NY/St. Raymonds), Joseph Bull (Bronx, NY/Mount St. Michael Academy), and Ryan Teaney (Schenectady, NY/Guilderland) to take their first lead at 21-20. Both sides traded baskets until a three from Oswego's Joey Rowback and a Sparks' layup put the Lakers up 27-23. Ortale sank two-straight triples to put Oneonta up by two, but Oswego's Ahkee Anderson responded with a trey at 3:38. There were two more lead changes of the half until Knox scored the go-ahead basket with 27 seconds reaming to make it 35-34 at the break. 

Ortale gave Oneonta a three-point lead after netting the opening basket of the second half. Oswego answered with a 10-2 run to regain the advantage at 44-39. Derice was fouled while attempting a three at 14:37 and converted all three attempts to tie. The game remained close afterward until junior Frankie Williams (Bronx, NY/Fannie Lou) hit a triple at 11:50. Oneonta never could pull away as the Lakers used a 6-0 span to lead by four points. Williams scored the following four Red Dragons' points to tie 55-55 with 7:32 left. Another 10-2 Oswego run gave the visitors a 65-57 lead as Oneonta struggled to fight back. An Ortale three-pointer with 52 seconds left cut the lead to 73-68, but the Lakers converted their free throws down the stretch. 

Bull led Oneonta with 16 points and added six rebounds and three assists. Ortale finished with 15 points, six rebounds, and a steal, while Derice added 15 points, nine boards, three assists, and a block. Williams scored seven points.

Sparks shot 11-of-20 from the field and grabbed three rebounds with two assists. Achille scored 14 points with six boards. 

Oneonta looks to bounce back tomorrow when they host Cortland at 4 p.m. in Dewar Arena.