GENESEO, N.Y. -- The Geneseo men's basketball team (4-3, 1-0 SUNYAC) turned aside a late rally by previously unbeaten Cortland (5-1, 2-1 SUNYAC) to open State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) competition Tuesday.

The Blue Knights used a 14-2 run to take a 65-53 lead with just 3:35 remaining in regulation with senior forward Ryan Riefenhauser (Dobbs Ferry/Dobbs Ferry) scoring six of the points in the run. With two minutes to go Geneseo still maintained a 12-point lead but Cortland used three-point shooting and pressure defense to the next 10 points; the Red Dragons closed to within 68-66 on a lay-up with 1:16 left, then rebounded a Geneseo miss to set up a chance at the go-ahead basket. Their three-point attempt missed and was rebounded by Riefenhauser, who was fouled and converted both his free throws to provide the final margin.

Riefenhauser finished with eight points and a game-high nine rebounds. Geneseo’s top two scorers came off the bench (10 Blue Knights played between 13 and 27 minutes) with junior forward Matt Curry (Greenlawn/Harborfields) scoring 17 and junior forward Gordon Lyons (Amherst/Canisius) adding 10.

Junior guard Connor Fedge (Bellport/Bellport) contributed nine points; junior guard Thomas Decker (White Plains/Archbishop Stepanic) and sophomore forward James McKenna (Huntington/St. Anthony’s) scored eight apiece. Senior guard Marcus Hoy (Batavia/Batavia) led the Blue Knights with a career-best five assists.

Geneseo continues SUNYAC play Friday with an 8 p.m. game at Oneonta.