SYRACUSE, New York – The Onondaga men's basketball team battled harder but came out victorious against cross-city foe SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry Mighty Oaks on Wednesday night.

SUNY ESF (0-5) started game off winning the tip, and quickly hitting a quick three pointers. Onondaga went back down the other end, answered back with a second chance layup from Kameron DiSanto.

Both teams had a back and forth battle, going blow for blow the entire first half. Onondaga, coming off a tough loss to Fulton-Montgomery was able to get back on track.

"We are still a work in progress, trying to find our groove" said Head Coach David Pasiak after the Lazers' 83-62 victory.

The Lazers (4-2) were down 21-16 with ten minutes remaining in the first half, but stormed back, tying the game on a Kevin DiCola three-pointer and causing ESF to call at timeout at 8:10 remaining.

"ESF came in with a not-so-good recorded, but has played some talents four-year programs Pasiak. added."

The game continued to go back and forth as the Lazers and Mighty Oaks tied the game up three times in the last six and half minutes of the first half. The game was tied at 27, 30, and finally at 35 with 1:08 remaining in the first half.

Onondaga went into the locker room at halftime with a 37-36 led, missing three attempts at the last second put-in.

Thomas Towner scored the first basket of the second half, then Nikeem Deleon scored seven straight points to give the Lazers a 46-39 lead just over three minutes into the second half, and Onondaga never looked back on their way to victory.

Onondaga has been getting killed on offense charging fouls, three on the night at 17:34 remaining in the second. The team did settle down and was able to play an up-tempo game without foul trouble.

Continuing their second half success, the Lazers took a 58-46 lead with 13:51 remaining in the second half following back to back three-pointers from Zachary Sawyer and a Jordan Bandera layup, forcing Mighty Oaks to call timeout.

With Onondaga leading 66-49 and ten minutes remaining, the Lazers went on a quick 9-0 run on the strength of three consecutive three-pointers from DiCola.

"Kevin has had great streaks so far this season, and had another great one tonight" added Pasiak. He finished with a team high eighteen points.

The Mighty Oaks had trouble hitting shots, and with four minutes remaining the Lazers took a 79-59 lead. Onondaga finished the game with a 83-62 victory.

Deleon followed DiCola in the scoring column, tallying 16 points, while Sawyer added 14.  DiSanto added 13 and 7 rebounds, while Bandera pulled down 8 rebounds and handed out 3 assists.

The Lazers look forward to this Sunday at home against Columbia-Greene Community College, and hope to get their fifth victory of the season.  Tip-off is at 1 pm in Allyn Hall.