BOXSCORE ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Fredonia State erased a double-digit deficit with a big second-half run en route to a 98-89 opening-ame win Friday over the Union Dutchmen at Nazareth College.
The Blue Devils trailed 81-69 with just under seven minutes left, then closed out the game with a 30-8 run, led by sophomore
Robert Lyles (Peekskill), who had 21 of his career-high 32 points in the second half.
Kevin Federation (Rochester) added 18 points,
Alexander Grace (Bemus Point) added 12, and
Markus Williams (Niagara Falls) and
John Kovach (Shoreham) had 11 points each to make the Fredonia State head coaching debut of Phil Seymore a successful one.
The Blue Devils led the entire first half and were up by as many as 16 points. They maintained their advantage until a three-point basket by Terrell Winney  gave Union its first lead, 63-61, with 13:42 remaining. The Dutchmen opened up a 12-point lead, 81-69, with 6:55 left, before the Blue Devils closed out with a surge.
The comeback began with a rebound basket by Kovach, followed by four free throws by Lyles and two by Grace. Lyles then connected on a three-point basket, a conventional two-pointer, and another three-pointer to complete a 16-2 run in under three minutes. Fredonia State led 85-82 and never trailed again.
In addition to the play from Lyle and his other starters, Seymore's team had a 32-19 scoring advantage from its bench. In addition, statisticians credited the Blue Devils with 22 points off turnovers, and none for Union.
Fredonia State will meet either host Nazareth or Sage at 4 p.m. Saturday in the tournament championship game.
