BROCKPORT, N.Y.—The College at Brockport men's basketball team dropped a frustrating home game against Buffalo State on Tuesday. The Golden Eagles struggled to find a consistent rhythm throughout the matchup and ended up on the wrong end of an 88-80 score. The result moves the unit to a 10-5 overall mark, while still holding on to second place in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC), with a 6-2 record. The Bengals move to 4-11 on the year and 2-7 in conference play.
 
The Green and Gold grabbed an early advantage thanks to three pointers by Antonio Alvarez and Josh Nelson, but the Bengals were resilient and battled back to pull ahead 10-8 just three minutes into the game. Both units proceeded to trade leads with buckets coming from a variety of Golden Eagles. Brandon Kennedy-Gay nailed a three, as Devante Hagins and Justin Summers provided layups that all gave the team leads throughout the first half. Despite seeing an eight point deficit with 2:16 left to play, Jahidi Wallace and Alvarez each nailed a pair of free-throws that cut the score to 37-35. After a pair of charity stripe makes by the Bengals, Wallace ended the half with a last second layup that brought the score to 39-37 at half time.
 
The second frame got off to a rocky start with the Green and Gold falling behind by double digits at the 15:13 mark and as many as 12 with 14:12 on the clock. However, the Golden Eagles showed life with three consecutive layups by Montgomery Stroman, Wallace and Hagins cutting the deficit to six. A few moments later, Stroman converted another layup to inch closer to the Bengals and brought the score to 54-51 with 12:23 to play. After an oppositional run opened the game up, Brockport once again stormed back, with a pair of three's coming off the hands of Kennedy-Gay and Danny Ashley tying the score at 68-68. Unfortunately it was as close as the team got, and the final horn sounded with the Golden Eagles down 88-80.
 
The top scoring contributors came off the bench. Wallace knocked in 14 thanks to 4-for-6 shooting from the field and 6-for-8 shooting at the free-throw line. Kennedy-Gay chipped in 14 of his own, knocking down 4-for-7 from behind the arc. Ashley recorded 11 points and a team leading eight assists. Stroman was the fourth Golden Eagle in double digits, scoring 10 points, while recording three steals.
 
Brockport hits the road next for a SUNYAC battle against Plattsburgh State on Friday, Jan. 25. The last time the team met, the Green and Gold upset the then no. 10 ranked Cardinals, 79-78. The matchup is slated for a 7:30 p.m. start time.
 
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