GENESEO, N.Y. – SUNY Geneseo junior guard John Decker scored a double-double 34 points and 10 rebounds while junior guard Justin Ringen added 22 points to lead the Knights to a 89-85 victory at Medaille in the men's basketball season-opener, Saturday.

Senior guard Connor Keenan added 11 points while sophomore guard Kevin Crockett added 10 points to the victory. 

"Obviously, Decker stood out for us today. We had a lot of guys contribute in different ways but we don't win the game without his performance," said head coach Steve Minton. "However, we need to do a much better job taking care of the basketball. We aren't going to be able to weather too many storms committing 13 more turnovers than our opponents." 

Free throws were a big part of the outcome as Geneseo converted 31-of-37 trips to the line, including a 14-of-16 showing by Decker, while Medaille (0-1) shot 10-of-15 from the charity stripe. While the Knights also won the rebounding battle, 51-33, including 33-24 on the defensive glass, they committed 23 turnovers compared to Medaille's 10. 

Ringen, who along with Decker, was making his first appearance in Geneseo uniforms after transferring from Division II Dominican, led all scorers in the first half with 14 points, including three three-pointers during a 12-2 run that brought the Knights to a 29-24 lead with 5:44 on the clock. Medaile answered with a 7-0 run of its own to take a two-point lead, 31-29, at 2:40, but Geneseo finished the half with a 6-4 spurt, including a three-point strike by first-year forward Sean Avery, to lead, 36-35, at intermission.

Decker led the way in the second half with 25 points, including 10 of Geneseo's first 15 points as the visitors' took their largest lead, 51-43, following an old-fashioned three-point play by sophomore guard Charlie Zaepfel at 16:01. 

The Mavericks went on a 15-7 run to tie the game, 58-58, at 10:42 before taking their largest lead of the game, 70-62, with 6:11 left in regulation. However, Geneseo responded by holding Medaille to one field goal over the next 4:34 to re-take a 81-74 lead with :38 on the clock. 

Geneseo salted the game away by hitting 15-of-17 free throws down the stretch, despite Medaille converting three three-point field goals in the final 26 seconds of the game. 

The Knights return to action next Friday opposite Alfred at 6:00 p.m. in the first round of the Laurel Line Tournament, hosted by Misericorida (Pa.).