Canton, NY – The SUNY Canton men's basketball team improved its win total, both overall and in the conference, narrowly missing out on the playoffs in its second season in the SUNYAC during the 2025-26 campaign under fourth year Head Coach Dylan Seikel.

The Roos picked up their first victory of the year with an emphatic 106-77 win against VTSU Lyndon on November 15 at home behind 22 points from Jahhdeuir Reese.



Canton earned its first SUNYAC win of the season on January 10 as Malaki Smith hit the game-winning three-pointer with 29 seconds left to lift the Roos past Potsdam 89-87 at home. The Roos would also defeat the Bears 87-77 later in January at Potsdam to complete the season sweep against their Route 11 rivals.



The Roos also earned a convincing 89-76 league win against New Paltz on January 20. All five Canton starters scored in double figures as Bryon Streb (22 points, 12 rebounds) and Lateef Johnson Jr. (17 points, 12 rebounds) both recorded double-doubles.



SUNY Canton took Oswego, one of the top teams in the SUNYAC, to overtime at home on February 6 as Jordan Sidle hit a game-tying three with less than a second left in regulation. Johnson Jr. recorded the first triple-double in SUNY Canton D-III era history with 15 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists to go with five steals but the visiting Lakers were able to pull out a 103-97 victory in overtime. The Roos finished the season in strong fashion winning their final three SUNYAC games, all at home. Johnson Jr. led the way with 22 points, 16 rebounds, eight assists and five blocks in an 85-79 win against Morrisville on February 14.



Canton used a 14-0 run in the second half to earn a 78-68 win against Buffalo State on February 20 and closed out the year scoring a season-high 109 points in a 109-87 victory against Fredonia the next afternoon. Reese banked in a three at the first half buzzer and scored a career-best 24 points, while Johnson Jr. added 29 points.



Johnson Jr. was named SUNYAC Second Team All-Conference and D3hoops.com Third Team All-Region after an impressive first season with the Roos. He was also named the SUNY Canton Athletic Department's Male Defender of the Year. Johnson Jr. averaged a double-double on 19.8 points and 12.0 rebounds per game shooting nearly 55% from the field and 30% from three-point range. He finished top five in the SUNYAC in rebounds per game (1st – 12.0), steals per game (1st – 2.6), blocks per game (1st – 2.0), points per game (2nd – 19.8), field goal % (3rd – 54.5) and assists per game (5th – 3.2).
 

He finished the season with 11 double-doubles including a 32 point, 17 rebound effort in his first game with the Roos against VTSU Castleton (1/2/26). He also had a 20-20 game with 26 points and 23 rebounds in his first SUNYAC contest against Oneonta (1/6/26). His 23 rebounds against the Red Dragons were the second most by a Canton player in D-III era program history.

Perhaps his most impressive performance came when he went for 36 points and 18 rebounds at Fredonia (1/23/26). The 36 points were the second most in a single game for a Roo in D-III era program history, while his 14 made field goals were the most in a game in the same era. His 12.0 rebounds per game set a D-III era single-season program record. Johnson Jr. was named the SUNYAC Athlete of the Week on January 26.

Following the season Streb was named College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District.  

Discover SUNY Canton, where innovation meets opportunity. The college's career-focused educational programs emphasize hands-on and applied learning opportunities in digital design, engineering technology, health, information technology, management, public service, and veterinary technology. Faculty members bring real-world experience and exceptional academic expertise to the classroom. As a leader in online education, SUNY Canton offers unmatched flexibility with hundreds of courses and 25 comprehensive degree programs offered completely online. The SUNY Canton Kangaroos compete at the NCAA Division III level and are members of the SUNYAC. In addition to its 15 traditional teams, SUNY Canton offers coed varsity esports and cheerleading.