BROCKPORT, N.Y. – After leading throughout the majority of the contest, the Brockport men's basketball team fell in a close physical battle on Tuesday against Buffalo State in the SUNYAC season opener, 81-73.
 
The offense ran dry for the Golden Eagles (5-3, 0-1 SUNYAC) at the 2:35 mark, when Brockport went scoreless from the floor through the remainder of the contest, unable to overcome a charging Bengals (8-2, 2-1 SUNYAC) team. The Golden Eagles were just edged in several statistical categories, most notably of which was at the free throw line, where Brockport posted 13-of-24 at the charity stripe.
 
Back-to-back three's from Patrick Modzelewski got things started for the Golden Eagles in the contest, and with a pair of scores from Devonn Gavin and Levi Pace, worked the Brockport advantage out to eight, at 10-2, five minutes into play.  The levelheaded Green and Gold unit continued to be a step ahead of the Buffalo squad, and worked to keeps its distance.
 
With a minute remaining in the half, Brockport worked out to its largest lead after a pair of Marcus Blythers free throws made the count 36-27. A Bengal bucket as time expired made the halftime count 36-27 in favor of the Golden Eagles.
 
At the midway point, Modzelewski led the Brockport efforts with 11 points and four rebounds. Clifton Lyerly added eight, with Gavin chipping in six. The Golden Eagles posted 46.4 percent shooting in the opening half, but were plagued at the free throw line, shooting 6-of-11.
 
Head coach Greg Dunne's squad came out of the half much like the first, with Olusola Adeniran and Modzelewski scoring on back to back trips to push the Golden Eagle lead back out to nine with 17:46 to play. The Brockport offense continued to produce, but the Bengals slowly began to build steam, and at the 8:23 mark pulled within one after a Buffalo three make the count 60-59.
 
By the 3:52 mark, the Golden Eagle lead vanished, as a Buffalo lay-in evened the count at 67-67. Brockport flirted with the lead, regaining the advantage just a minute later when a Pace bucket in the lane gave the Golden Eagles a 69-68 edge.
 
However, that lead would be the last the Green and Gold would enjoy, as 6-0 Bengal run handed the Golden Eagles their largest deficit at 74-69 with just under a minute to play. Forced to play catch up, Brockport couldn't overcome the timely Bengals run, and fell to Buffalo, 81-73.
 
Lyerly led the Green and Gold with 19 points and was a rebound shy of a double-double at nine. Modzelewski finished with 13 points and seven rebounds, while Pace worked into double figures with 12 points and added eight boards. Matthew Smith neared a double-double with seven points and a stellar eight assists.
 
As a team, the Golden Eagles shot 42.9 percent in the contest while holding their opponent to 45.6 percent from the field. Brockport only allowed three three-pointers in the contest, and forced 19 turnovers. The Green and Gold outmatched the Bengals on the boards and in the running game, with 16 fast-break points to their opponents eight and a 40-38 rebound count.
 
The Golden Eagles will be back in action as they continue conference play on Jan. 8 when they host New Paltz at 7:30 p.m.
 
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