ONEONTA, N.Y. - The first Battle of the Red Dragons did not disappoint as the Oneonta men's basketball team downed Cortland 72-64 on Saturday afternoon in Dewar Arena. Oneonta used a strong bench that outscored Cortland 35-7 in the closely contested game. Oneonta moves to 11-6 overall and 7-3 in the SUNYAC with the win, while Cortland slips to 14-6 and 7-4 in the conference. 

"Tonight was a gritty win. It is so hard to win in this league, and our guys were determined to find a way," said head coach Cameron Conover. "It wasn't the prettiest win, and we certainly can play better, but we made the plays down the stretch required to win. I am proud of their effort."

Seniors Joseph Bull (Bronx, NY/Mount St. Michael Academy) and Daniel Derice (Tampa, FL/Wesley Chapel) got Oneonta moving with back-to-back baskets to open the game 4-0. Cortland was held scoreless until 17:06, when Aaron Coston scored inside. Sophomore Caleb Brown (Brooklyn, NY/Uncommon Charter) responded with an inside score, and then senior Michael Ortale Jr. (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem Central) laid the ball in to put Oneonta ahead 8-2. Cortland's shooting struggles continued, and a three-pointer from sophomore Ryan Teaney (Schenectady, NY/Guilderland) built the lead up to 11-6 at 12:35. 

Cortland began to rally afterward, using triples from Cam Williams and Teemu Tumanoff to cut the Oneonta lead to one point. Oneonta continued to hold a single-digit lead and went up 24-20 following a three-pointer from junior Frankie Williams (Bronx, NY/Fannie Lou). Cortland netted the following two baskets to tie, but a steal and fastbreak score from Ortale kept the narrow advantage. 

Cortland used a 4-0 span to take its first lead, but Williams answered with five straight points to end the half with Oneonta leading 31-28.

After Derice drained a three-pointer at 18:09, Cortland responded with two consecutive threes to regain the lead. Austin Grunder scored inside to put Cortland ahead by five. Freshman Tyler Harts (Queens, NY/Sewanaka) scored a jumper and then netted a fastbreak triple at 14:07 to tie 41-41. Four more ties followed until 9:53, when Grunder netted the layup. 

Williams hit another three, and then Harts picked up Brown for an inside score to force a Cortland timeout. Oneonta took its largest lead at seven points when Ortale scored on the fastbreak, and then Williams sank a trey at 1:11 to make it 67-60 in Oneonta's favor. 

Oneonta ran the clock and converted its free throws to pick up the win in the final minute. 

Bull recorded his 11th double-double with 16 points, 15 rebounds, six assists, one block, and a steal. Harts scored a career-high 16 points, with three triples coming off the bench. Williams added 14 points off the bench with four three-pointers, seven rebounds, and five assists. Derice added nine points and five boards, while Ortale had eight points, eight rebounds, and four assists.

Grunder led Cortland with 22 points and 14 rebounds, while Coston had 14 points. 

Oneonta is back home next week to host Fredonia on Fri. Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m.