Wooster, OH – The SUNY Brockport men's basketball team suffered a tough road loss, falling to Otterbein University, 87-73, in the opening game of the Wooster Rotary Classic on Friday night at Timken Gymnasium. Despite a ferocious rebounding effort and efficient offensive bursts from the Green and Gold, the Cardinals' superior shooting efficiency in the second half proved to be the deciding factor.
The Golden Eagles placed three players in double figures, powered by the scoring punch of their veteran core and a vital contribution from the freshman class.
The senior duo of
Jacob Oka and
Zachary Rice led the offensive charge. Oka delivered a game-high 16 points on a remarkable 6-of-7 shooting from the field (85.7%), showcasing an elite level of efficiency. His performance included a perfect 2-for-2 from behind the arc, along with four rebounds and two assists. Rice provided a strong 14 points, going 5-for-12 on the night, adding an assist and a steal.
Freshman guard
Ajani Flemming provided the essential shooting spark off the bench to stabilize the offense early. Flemming recorded 12 points, connecting on 3-of-7 attempts from long distance. His clutch perimeter shooting included two back-to-back triples in the opening minutes to immediately cut into Otterbein's early 9-0 surge.
On the interior,
Omar White was relentless on the glass, dominating the paint to secure a game-high 10 rebounds, including four critical offensive rebounds that generated second-chance scoring opportunities for Brockport. White complemented his effort with four points and a steal.
The contest began with Otterbein jumping out to a quick 9-0 lead in the first three minutes. Brockport immediately rallied, using Flemming's three-pointers to close the gap and eventually battling back to seize a pair of brief one-point leads mid-way through the half. The tight, back-and-forth action saw the Green and Gold successfully erase the early deficit and play the Cardinals even, resulting in a 41-41 tie heading into the halftime break.
The tie proved short-lived in the second half. Otterbein emerged from the locker room and quickly established an advantage, using a high-percentage attack to create separation. They steadily built their lead, which peaked at 16 points (87-71) in the final minute of regulation, and delivered a game-changing 9-0 run late in the second half. Despite Oka's late-game steal and subsequent layup by White, which provided a final effort to ignite a comeback bid, the Green and Gold could not overcome the shooting disparity.
Otterbein capitalized on their opportunities, finishing the game with a noticeably higher field goal percentage and a significant advantage at the free-throw line. The Cardinals hit nearly 80% of their free throws, a percentage the Golden Eagles—who shot closer to 60% from the charity stripe—simply could not match. Ultimately, the relentless effort of the Golden Eagles was negated by Otterbein's superior percentage shooting and consistent free-throw execution in the decisive second half.
Up Next: The Golden Eagles will return to the court tomorrow for their final game of the Wooster Rotary Classic. Brockport will face the host, The College of Wooster, on Saturday, November 22nd, with tip-off scheduled for 6 p.m.
