Cardinals take it to the Tartans in the team's season opener
By Eddie Ramos
Last Updated:4:34 PM EST 11/20/09 Section: Sports
The St. John Fisher men's basketball team opened the 2009 season with a win on the road as they traveled to Pittsburgh, PA, on Sunday Nov. 15, and defeated Carnegie Mellon University 70-65.
The Cardinals' (1-0) depth was key in the victory as four players finished in double digits. Sophomore guards Connor Henderson and Jordan Gettings both had 12 points while junior Brandon Witte and senior Michael Wopperer tallied 11 and 10, respectively. Wopperer finished with a team high 9 rebounds.
"Our offense was solid, we really shared the ball and attacked the rim," head coach Rob Kornaker said.
The Tartans (0-1) jumped out to an early 4-0 lead as senior guard Jack Anderson scored consecutive baskets. Fisher responded quickly and went on a 9-0 run to take a 9-4 lead with as Cardinals center Dan Evans scored on a layup with 14:26 remaining in the first half.
"We knew they (Carnegie Mellon) would come out intense offensively and we wanted to match that intensity on the defensive end and we did," said junior guard Ozell Franklin.
Jordan Koch was making his debut as a Cardinal after transferring from Finger Lakes Community College to Fisher this year.
"Jordan is a huge threat because he is so long and athletic," Wopperer said. "It is going to be hard for opposing teams to guard him."
The Fisher bench, which accounted for 40 points, was able to combat some early foul trouble. Franklin (9 points), a starter last season, and senior center Dan Evans (8 points, 6 rebounds) provided a lift offensively as well.
"Just having an opportunity to help my team win is the most important thing to me, starting or not doesn't matter at the end of the day," Franklin said.
The Cardinals offensive continued to pour it on the Tartans as Fisher took a commanding 39- 23 lead on a Henderson layup with 1:04 remaining in the first half.
"We were up 16 with under a minute to go and we went into the break, up 12. I was disappointed with the way we ended the half," Kornaker said. "We played such a great half, I told the guys we have to finish strong."
The Cardinals' (1-0) depth was key in the victory as four players finished in double digits. Sophomore guards Connor Henderson and Jordan Gettings both had 12 points while junior Brandon Witte and senior Michael Wopperer tallied 11 and 10, respectively. Wopperer finished with a team high 9 rebounds.
"Our offense was solid, we really shared the ball and attacked the rim," head coach Rob Kornaker said.
The Tartans (0-1) jumped out to an early 4-0 lead as senior guard Jack Anderson scored consecutive baskets. Fisher responded quickly and went on a 9-0 run to take a 9-4 lead with as Cardinals center Dan Evans scored on a layup with 14:26 remaining in the first half.
"We knew they (Carnegie Mellon) would come out intense offensively and we wanted to match that intensity on the defensive end and we did," said junior guard Ozell Franklin.
Jordan Koch was making his debut as a Cardinal after transferring from Finger Lakes Community College to Fisher this year.
"Jordan is a huge threat because he is so long and athletic," Wopperer said. "It is going to be hard for opposing teams to guard him."
The Fisher bench, which accounted for 40 points, was able to combat some early foul trouble. Franklin (9 points), a starter last season, and senior center Dan Evans (8 points, 6 rebounds) provided a lift offensively as well.
"Just having an opportunity to help my team win is the most important thing to me, starting or not doesn't matter at the end of the day," Franklin said.
The Cardinals offensive continued to pour it on the Tartans as Fisher took a commanding 39- 23 lead on a Henderson layup with 1:04 remaining in the first half.
"We were up 16 with under a minute to go and we went into the break, up 12. I was disappointed with the way we ended the half," Kornaker said. "We played such a great half, I told the guys we have to finish strong."
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