ONEONTA, N.Y. - SUNY Geneseo junior guard Zack Panebianco scored a game-high 21 points, including 14 in the second half, as the Knights climbed back from a 10-point first half deficit to defeat Oneonta, 67-62, in both teams' State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) opener on Friday night.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Geneseo (3-2, 1-0 SUNYAC) took an early 20-17 lead after the first 12 minutes of play, but Oneonta responded with a 9-0 run to grab a 26-20 advantage. The Knights sunk a pair of free throws, but the Red Dragons piled on their lead with three-straight buckets in the paint, taking a 32-22 advantage with 2:48 remaining in the first half. 
• The Knights finished the half on a 6-0 run as senior guard Kevin Crockett and sophomore forward Tommy Eastman each netted jumpers and senior forward Jordi Menkhorst drilled a pair of free throws to send Geneseo into the locker room trailing, 32-28, at the break.
• In the second half, the Knights continued battling and finally took the lead just over five minutes in when sophomore guard CJ Burke hit a three to cap a 12-5 run and give Geneseo a 40-39 lead.
• Oneonta regained the lead, taking a 45-44 advantage with 10:44 to go, but Burke nailed a jumper to put the Knights back on top the next possession.
• Geneseo extended its advantage to six points and held off a furious rally from the hosts, going 5-for-6 from the foul line in the final minute to seal the victory. 

QUICK FACTS

• The Knights have now won six of their past eight games played at Oneonta, and improve to 35-23 all-time against their conference rival.
• Burke finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season, while Eastman finished with eight points and 10 rebounds. Crockett, Menkhorst and junior guard Quinn Carey each scored seven.
• Panebianco recorded his second 20-point performance of the season, after scoring a season-high 23 in the first game of the year at Marymount (Nov. 18).
• Geneseo has won three of its last four conference openers.

WHAT'S NEXT

Geneseo will return to the court on Saturday when they travel to New Paltz for another conference clash.