The College at Brockport offense came out firing on all cylinders as the Golden Eagles secured a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Tournament bid with a victory over Potsdam Saturday afternoon, with a score of 97-59 in Potsdam, NY. The Golden Eagles secured the fourth seed and will host Buffalo State Tuesday at 7 pm in the Jim and John Vlogianitis Gymnasium on the Brockport campus.

Brockport (14-11, 11-7 SUNYAC) made seven three pointers in the first half of play while shooting 20-of-31 from the floor (64.5%) to build a 30 point first half lead. The Golden Eagles led 55-25 at the half, behind 12 points each from senior Mike Gallagher (Schenectady, NY/Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons) and sophomore Clifton Lyerly (Inwood, NY/Lawrence).

The Golden Eagles jumped ahead early and never looked back as Patrick Modzelewski (Brooklyn, NY/Msgr. McClancy) made the first basket of the game. Modzelewski assisted on the next bucket when he dished the ball to Levi Pace (Medina, NY/Medina) who converted the play with a layup.

Gallagher stretched the Golden Eagle lead to 14 points when he made back-to-back three pointers with less than 15 minutes remaining in the half.  Matthew Smith (East Northport, NY/Northport) assisted on the back-to-back triples from Gallagher, who started the game 4-of-4 from beyond the arc.

Lyerly was aggressive early and often, driving the ball deep into the Bears territory and drawing several Potsdam fouls. Lyerly was 4-of-5 from the floor and helped stretch the Golden Eagle lead with a three point play the hard way with under two minutes remaining in the half. Lyerly made a layup and was fouled in the process, converting his free throw to increase the Brockport lead to 51-24.

Sophomore Aaron White (North Tonawanda, NY/Canisius) had the hot hand for the Golden Eagles in the second half. White showed off his ability to penetrate and stretch defenses as he was able to drive to the basket and score as well as knock down shots from downtown. With just under 15 minutes left in the second half White made a three pointer to give Brockport a 66-34 lead.

The Bears attempted to stage a rally shrinking the Brockport lead to 19 points but the Golden Eagles responded with a 24-5 run to close out the game and secure a playoff berth. Brockport leaped past Buffalo State in the SUNYAC standings as the Bengals dropped a close game to Oneonta.

Lyerly led the Brockport offensive attack with 19 points while Gallagher added 15 and White chipped in 13. Eight more Golden Eagles scored to help Brockport score a season high 97 points. Lyerly, Smith and Mitch Cote (Rochester, NY/Penfield)  each compiled four assists during the game as the Golden Eagles finished the game with an unbelievable 58.9% shooting percentage from the floor.

On the defensive side of things, Smith, Pace, Terence Thomas (Oakdale, NY/Connetquot) and Abdoulaye Sow (Greenburgh, NY/Woodlands) all swiped the ball twice from the Bears.

Brockport is set to host Buffalo State in the first round of the SUNYAC Tournament Tuesday at 7 pm in the Jim and John Vlogianitis Gymnasium on the campus of Brockport.