ESF Big Men Dominate as Mighty Oaks Defeat CIA

The Mighty Oaks men's basketball team started off the new year with an impressive home win over the Culinary Institute Steels on Jan. 10.

The Steels got out to a hot-shooting start, leading the Mighty Oaks 23-15 in the first ten minutes of the opening half and going up by as many as nine points at 28-19 with just over seven minutes to play in the opening frame. The Mighty Oaks' offense and defense finally awoke from their slumber, led by sophomore Ryan Caldwell, ralling back to take the lead at halftime 33-28 as part of an 18-0 run that carried over into the start of the 2nd half.

The Steels broke the Oaks run with their first basket of the new half three minutes in to bring the score to 37-34, but that would be as close as they would get. The Mighty Oaks kept the pressure on and surged ahead, outscoring the Steels 45-21 in the final 16 minutes, leading by as many as 30 points late in the half, finishing up with a 82-55 win.

ESF's big men dominated the Steels, led by junior foward Sage Beemer's game high and career best 23 points along with 14 rebounds. Senior forward Suthod Young had 18 points and ten rebounds and freshman center Tyler Kuhn added 14 points, 8 boards and 3 blocks. Caldwell was two assists shy of a triple-double and finished the game with 16 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists.

The Mighty Oaks travel to Johnson City Jan.15 to take on rival Davis College, currently ranked #9 in USCAA Division II with a 7pm tip.