Brockport, NY – The SUNY Brockport men's basketball team is set to return to action on Saturday, November 6^th for its season opener. Brockport is on the road to take on Alfred University at 6 pm.
 
Chance at History: With the COVID-19 pandemic bringing an abrupt end to the 2019-20 season, Brockport's year ended prior to playing in the NCAA Division III Sweet 16 game against Tufts. While most postseason runs come to an end due to a loss, the Golden Eagles' did not which kept their win streak intact. They finished an incredible season with 19 wins in a row, which tied the program record for consecutive wins that was set back in 1971-73. With a win over Alfred to begin the year, Brockport can make it 20 straight wins and set a new program record in just the first game of the season.
 
2019-20 Recap: The team's last season was one of the most successful runs in program history. At 26-3 the Green and Gold tied the record for second most wins in a single season and made the Sweet 16 for the sixth time in school history. Brockport ran the table from January 11^th, 2020 all the way through when postseason play was shut down due to the pandemic. Winning its first SUNYAC title since 2014, the squad hosted the conference tournament and earned its ninth SUNYAC Championship in school history. Brockport finished the year 15-0 on its home court on the way to making its 13^th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.
 
Getting it Dunne: Going into his 14^th season at the helm, Head Coach Greg Dunne looks to continue the incredible success of the 2019-20 season. Dunne was named the SUNYAC Coach of the Year as he led the team to a 26-3 overall record and a career best 17-1 mark in SUNYAC play. He was also recognized as the NABC East District Coach of the Year, USBWA Rochester Area Coach of the Year, and made the list of Silver Waves Media's D3 Men's Basketball 50 Impactful Head Coaches. The 2019-20 SUNYAC Title was his third since joining the program back in 2007. Dunne's all-time record as leader of the program is 233-128 overall for a .645 win rate for his career.
 
Receiving Votes: The Golden Eagles were featured on the 2021-22 D3hoops.com Preseason National Poll that was released mid-October. The D3hoops.com Top 25 is voted on by a panel of 25 coaches, Sports Information Directors, and media members from across the country. The reigning 2019-20 SUNYAC Champions received 37 total votes in the poll, putting them on the outskirts of Top 25 status in the nation. Last season the squad finished the year ranked 11^th in the country after its run to the NCAA Sweet 16.
 
Key Returners: Jahidi Wallace headlines the names returning to the team this season as Brockport has just five players back from the SUNYAC Championship squad. Wallace was the leading scorer for the Golden Eagles in 2019-20 with 406 total points to average 14 a game. He did a lot of damage in the paint and at the free throw line, shooting 76.7% at the stripe and 54.5% from the field. Devante Hagins is back as well as the leading rebounder from last season when he averaged seven boards a night. Hagins impacts the game in multiple ways as he finished 2019-20 second on the team in blocks, third in assists, and averaged the second most minutes per game. Antonio Alvarez is also back for another go around as one of Brockport's lethal perimeter shooters. Alvarez shot 41% from beyond the arc last season to lead the team. Brandon Kennedy-Gay is back for his senior season to provide extra leadership and experience, while Joseph Pena returns for his sophomore year.
 
New Faces: Brockport has a large group of new players joining the roster this season with only five players returning from the 2019-20 season. Three juniors are ready to suit up in the Green and Gold for the first time this season in Hakeem Dobbins, Tyler Cowie, and David Grady III. The squad is sprinkled with lots of youth, as the incoming freshman class features eight new names to the team. This group of first year players includes Jakai White, Colby Jordan, Damario James, Thierry Blyden, Monte Johnson, Mekhi Beckett, Milo Scheve, and JJ Jerebko.
 
Schedule Layout: The Golden Eagles will be on the road for three of the first four contests, as their home opener is scheduled for Tuesday, November 9^th at 6:30 pm against Morrisville State. SUNYAC play begins at home on November 30^th against Fredonia, as the team plays four conference games prior to the winter session break. The annual Mauro Panaggio Tournament down in Daytona Beach, FL will run from December 19-21. Just one more non-conference matchup is left when the team returns from winter break, with only SUNYAC games remaining from January 7^th on. The regular season comes to an end on February 19^th at home against Buffalo State, while the SUNYAC Tournament is set to begin on February 22^nd.
 
Scouting Alfred: The Alfred University men's basketball is prepared to return to action following a brief spring season. Experience will be key, as the Saxons bring in 20 veterans and five first-year athletes. The Saxons will be led by first-year Head Coach Erich Kaempffe, who previously spent time as an assistant coach for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. This past spring the team went 5-2 before the rest of the season was shut down. In their last full season, the Saxons finished the 2019-20 year with an 11-14 record overall and went 5-9 in the Empire 8.
 
Looking Ahead: Brockport's home opener is next on the schedule as the team will prepare to host the Morrisville State College Mustangs. This game is set for a 6:30 pm start on Tuesday, November 9^th in the Jim and John Vlogianitis Gymnasium.