PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – After several late comeback attempts to tie the contest, The College at Brockport men's basketball team fell in the semi-final round of the SUNYAC Conference Tournament on Friday to SUNY Cortland, 80-78.
 
The Golden Eagles fall to 17-10 on the season while the Red Dragons advance with a record of 19-7 on the year.
 
Four Golden Eagles worked into double figures, with Clifton Lyerly and Hamed Shamseldin each turning in 18 points apiece. Lyerly also dished out five assists and scooped up four rebounds while Shamseldin added five boards and two steals. Olusola Adeniran netted 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field while Devonn Gavin chipped in 11 points. Matthew Smith and Patrick Modzelewski each finished with six points, while Smith handed out seven assists on the night.
 
The Green and Gold shot a healthy 60 percent (30-of-50) from the field in the contest, with 61.5 percent (8-of-13) from beyond the arc. Brockport also turned in 71.4 percent (10-of-14) shooting at the charity stripe on the night. The Golden Eagles dominated in the paint, with a margin of 40-20 scoring in the lane.
 
After taking a 39-32 lead into the halftime break, the Golden Eagles were forced to try and slow down a charging Red Dragon squad in the second half. By the 16:02 mark, Brockport saw its lead disappear, as Cortland knotted the contest at 45-45. After a pair of ties and lead changes, the Green and Gold fell behind 58-50 after an eight point Red Dragon swing.
 
The Golden Eagles were not ready to throw in the towel, and with 5:50 to play pulled within one after a pair of Adeniran buckets, two Lyerly free throws and a Modzelewski jumper to make the count 67-66.
 
Despite Cortland reestablishing a six point lead, the Golden Eagles pieced together a six-point run with a Gavin triple and an old-fashioned three point play from Lyerly to post a score of 75-75 at the two minute warning.

A Cortland three on the following possession could have been debilitating, but the Golden Eagles fought back, this time with Shamseldin getting the and-one play to tie the contest at 78-78 with 38 seconds remaining. An untimely foul on the next play sent the Red Dragons to the line, as Cortland posted an 80-78 lead following the conversion at the free throw line.
 
With 12 seconds remaining the Golden Eagles couldn't convert and were forced to foul. The Red Dragons were unsuccessful from the line, but it was a little too late as the Golden Eagles fell 80-78.

The Golden Eagles were hot in the first half, shooting 64 percent (16-of-25) from the field in the half, going 4-for-6 from beyond the arc. Brockport opened up with a four point lead after a six point run, featuring a pair of Adeniran scores and a Lyerly jumper to pull to a 8-4 advantage.
 
Eight lead changes and three tied scored later, the Golden Eagles worked out to their largest lead of the half, with an 8-0 run to post a 34-27 lead with 3:16 reaming in the period. The streak featured a score from Lyerly, a trey from Smith and a three-point play from Adeniran.

Gavin hit from deep, and a pair of Adeniran free throws to close the half gave Brockport a 39-32 advantage at the half.
 
The Green and Gold will await their fate, as the Golden Eagles vie for an at-large bid into the NCAA Championships. The NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championships bracket will be released on Monday, Feb. 29.