Utica, N.Y. — The SUNY Poly men's basketball team delivered a dominant performance at home, building a commanding first-half lead and never looking back in a 77–54 victory over the Houghton University Highlanders on Friday night. With the win, the Wildcats move to 16-5 on the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
SUNY Poly set the tone immediately, opening the game with aggressive play on both ends of the floor. Anthony Rose scored the Wildcats' first seven points, mixing strong takes to the basket with a confident three-pointer to give SUNY Poly early momentum. William Scanlon followed with perimeter shooting of his own, knocking down multiple threes to stretch the lead as the Wildcats jumped out to a 12–4 advantage in the opening minutes.
The Wildcats leaned on balanced scoring and defensive pressure throughout the first half. Marqiis Samuels and Oumaru Hydara consistently finished in the paint, while SUNY Poly's defense forced turnovers that turned into transition opportunities. Scanlon continued to find his rhythm from beyond the arc, and Brian Bonin sparked fast-break offense with finishes at the rim to keep the pressure on the Highlanders.
Midway through the half, SUNY Poly began to pull away. A flurry of three-pointers from Scanlon, combined with strong interior play from Samuels and Hydara, pushed the lead into double figures. The Wildcats closed the half on a decisive run, highlighted by back-to-back threes from Scanlon in the final minutes, taking a 49–28 advantage into the locker room.
SUNY Poly carried its energy into the second half, quickly extending the lead. Bonin opened the scoring with a three-pointer and followed with a fast-break layup after a steal, setting the tone for another strong stretch. Kamryn Comstock, Alec Bartone, and Rose added baskets inside as the Wildcats stretched the margin past 25.
The Wildcats' defense remained locked in throughout the half, limiting second-chance opportunities and forcing turnovers that fueled transition scoring. Bartone threw down a pair of emphatic dunks, while Hydara continued to make his presence felt around the rim on both ends of the floor.
As the game wore on, SUNY Poly showcased its depth, with multiple players contributing during extended minutes. Elijah Smith capped the scoring with a late three-pointer, as the Wildcats maintained control down the stretch and secured the 77–54 road victory.
"Proud of how the guys approached tonight's game," said head coach Rob Schoener. "They had a great sense of urgency right from the start. It was great to see everyone get some extended run. We're just focused on getting better every single day."
