Brockport, NY – The SUNY Brockport men's basketball lost to Alfred, 72-69, in an exciting season opener Tuesday night. Brockport's 3-pointer at the end of regulation missed, putting the team at 0-1 while Alfred starts the year at 1-0.
 
Finishing with 18 points in the contest, Jahidi Wallace officially joined the 1,000 Career Point Club. He becomes the 25^th player in program history to score over 1,000 points for Brockport. Wallace shot 7-for-13 from the field, while adding a team-high seven boards and three steals.
 
Last season's SUNYAC Rookie of the Year, Mekhi Beckett scored a game-high 27 points to lead the way for the Golden Eagles. Beckett went 5-for-14 from long range in the contest as well as grabbing six rebounds and two steals.
 
Tony Arnold contributed all over with 12 points, five boards, two assists, and a game-high four steals in his first start ever at Brockport. David Grady III posted a game-high four blocks from his efforts protecting the rim.
 
The Golden Eagles got off to a strong start in the game, taking an early 11-3 lead over the Alfred. They would find themselves tied at 17-17 near the midpoint of the half as Alfred went on a run. Mekhi Beckett scored the final eight points of the half for the Green and Gold, but the team headed into halftime down, 38-29.
 
In the early goings of the second half, Alfred would extend its lead to double-digits. The Saxons would hold their largest lead of the game at 14 points before Brockport would begin to turn it around. Getting out on the break and finishing at the rim brought the Golden Eagles back within one point with 14:50 on the clock.
 
Soon after, Alfred would jump right back in front as the team worked for a 10-point lead approaching crunch time. Jahidi Wallace and Mekhi Beckett teamed up to score 13 points in the final four minutes to give the squad a chance.
 
With 1:12 remaining to play, Wallace gave Brockport a 69-68 lead with a 3-point shot that pushed him over 1,000 points for his career. Alfred answered the next possession to retake the lead, and made some free throws to make it a 72-69 score. With time left for one last shot, Beckett missed the long-range bomb as time expired.
 
The Golden Eagles look to bounce back later in the week for another home game at The Vlog. On Friday, November 11^th they take on Keystone College for a 6pm tip-off.