Box Score
The College at Brockport Men's Basketball team secured a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) playoff berth with a 92-84 overtime victory at Buffalo State on Friday night. The Golden Eagles improved their conference record to 10-7 and currently hold the fifth playoff spot.
John Ivy (Rochester, NY/East) scored a career-high 35 points on the night, including four in the overtime period as Brockport outscored the Bengals 17-9 in the extra session. The Golden Eagles trailed by 10 points with under three minutes to play in regulation, but stormed back in the closing minutes.
Brandon Caruthers (Rochester, NY/East) hit a big three-point shot to bring Brockport within three and
Derek Klein (Valley Stream, NY/Long Island Lutheran) hit a layup to bring the game to one.
With 14 seconds remaining in regulation Ivy was fouled and hit one of two free throws to tie the game at 75. The Brockport defense held its ground in the overtime session as the Bengals shot just 4-11 in the final five minutes. Caruthers finished the game with 20 points and a Brockport career-high eight assists.
Brockport managed to get to the free throw line a season-high 42 times, knocking down 28 attempts. Brockport hit seven attempts in the overtime period. Ivy and Caruthers each went 8-9 from the line during the game.
Brockport kept the rebounding margin to a minimal as Buffalo State held a 48-45 advantage. The 45 rebounds are the third-most for the Golden Eagles this year.
Matt Lee (Ballston Lake,
NY/Shenendehowa) led the way with a game-high 12 rebounds followed by 11 from Ivy.
Ivy scored five of Brockport's first seven points to open the game but the Bengals tied things up at seven. From that point on, Buffalo State controlled the lead. The Bengals built their lead to as much as 12 in the first half. Caruthers scored five straight points for the Golden Eagles to bring the game back to single-digits, but Buffalo State maintained a comfortable lead throughout the first 20 minutes. The Bengals led 43-36 at halftime.
Buffalo State scored the first five points to open the second half until Ivy sank a three to end the run. Ivy and Caruthers scored the first eight points of the half for the Golden Eagles, keeping Brockport in the game. The Bengals held a lead of at least five points for the entire second half until Lee sank two free throws to bring the game within four. Brockport scored the final six points of regulation to force the extra period.
Klein gave Brockport a 78-77 lead in overtime with a fastbreak jumper and the Golden Eagles never looked back. Brockport hit all five of its shots in overtime and led by as many as eight as Brockport clinched its playoff spot.
The Golden Eagles will look to improve their playoff standings tomorrow with their final regular season home game, taking on the Fredonia State Blue Devils at 8:00 pm. With a win, Brockport could potentially wind up with a No. 4 seed, depending on the outcome of tomorrow's Geneseo-Buffalo State contest.
Tomorrow's game will be the final regular season contest for two seniors, Klein and
Jordan Major (Rochester, NY/Charlotte).
