With a win last Friday and another on Tuesday, the Geneseo men's basketball team continued their rip-roaring season thus far, improving to 5-0.
The team defeated the Oneonta Red Dragons last Friday. Geneseo opened the game with nine unanswered points and forced Oneonta to take a timeout after just two and a half minutes of play. With 5:36 on the clock, the Knights went on an 11-point run that helped them take a 19-point lead into halftime.
In the second half, the Knights locked down on defense to win 83-55. In the game, Geneseo was 30-56 from the field, including 7-15 on three-pointers, outshooting Oneonta in both categories. The Knights also pulled down 36 total rebounds compared to Oneonta's 29.
"Our overall offensive execution was very good, allowing us to get some easy baskets," said head coach Steve Minton. "Our defense was again very good as it has been all season."
Junior Scott Morton scored 21 points for Geneseo on Friday, going five-for-five from the line and making four of his seven three point attempts. Senior Tarik Kitson scored 19 points, hitting seven field goals and going five for six at the line.
"Tarik and Scott have played very well and certainly we would not be 4-0 without them," said Minton after the game. "However, this is a team game and each individual has played a very important role in our success thus far."
On Tuesday night, the team stretched its winning streak to five games with an 80-63 victory over Alfred University. Senior Joe Kling scored 17 points in the contest, hitting three of five three-pointers and going four-for-four at the line. Junior Jeff Howe scored 15 points and had eight rebounds.
With a 5-0 record, the team is off to one of its best starts in years. Minton and his players admit there is still a lot of work to be done, however, and they are not about to get ahead of themselves.
"We need to remember why we are playing so well, our defense and hard work, and continue to do this," said Morton. "We need to keep improving every day."
"Now is certainly not the time of the season you want to peak," said Minton. "There are some very big tests that lie ahead for us including the Chase Tournament and the always competitive SUNYAC conference."
Kitson believes that tenacity and good health are the keys to continued success.
"First and foremost we have to stay healthy," he said. "But we also have to take it one game at a time and play with that killer's mentality every time we get on the floor."