Brockport, NY – After a long seven-game road stretch to open the 2025-26 campaign, the SUNY Brockport men's basketball team (2-5) is finally set to return to the confines of the Jim and John Vlogianitis Gymnasium. The Golden Eagles will look to close out the calendar year on a high note as they host Penn State Behrend on Tuesday, December 30th, with tip-off scheduled for 3 p.m.

Resilience in Daytona Beach: The Golden Eagles faced a challenging afternoon in the consolation round of the Mauro Panaggio Holiday Tournament, falling 81-62 to Washington and Lee University. While an early deficit proved too large to overcome, Brockport displayed significant grit in the second half, outscoring the Generals 34-32 over the final 20 minutes.

The contest was hindered early by whistle-heavy play, with the Golden Eagles called for nine fouls in the opening half. This discrepancy allowed Washington and Lee to earn 16 free throw attempts before the break, helping them build a 49-28 halftime lead. Despite the setback, the Golden Eagles' younger core provided a much-needed spark:

• Veteran forward Jacob Oka anchored the defensive effort, cleaning up the glass with a team-high six rebounds and tallying three steals.
• Jack Clancy notched 10 points on efficient 4-of-5 shooting, including a pair of triples and two steals.
• Kameron Langdon matched his fellow freshman with 10 points, fueled by three shots from beyond the arc.

Aybar Named E8 Rookie of the Week: The Empire 8 conference once again recognized freshman Pharell Aybar, naming him the Empire 8 Rookie of the Week for the second time this season. The Washington Heights, NY native was a standout performer during the DME Tournament in Florida, particularly in the opening round against Piedmont University.

Aybar's versatility was on full display as he navigated intense pressure to record 17 points on a clinical 7-of-12 shooting night. Beyond his scoring, the freshman acted as the engine for the Brockport offense, racking up five assists, four rebounds, and two steals in just 25 minutes of play. Establishing himself as a reliable floor general, Aybar currently leads the Golden Eagles in both assists (3.1) and steals (2.1) per game as the team heads into the home opener.

Scouting Penn State Behrend: The Lions will head to Brockport with a solid 7-4 record, including an impressive 4-1 mark in December. Before a recent 92-63 loss against Division I Buffalo, Behrend had rattled off four straight victories.

The Lions are led by freshman Jacob Dunkle, who has emerged as a dominant force early in his career. Dunkle leads the squad with 18.1 points per game on an efficient 56.4% shooting from the floor, while also leading the effort on the boards with 7.8 rebounds per contest. 

Up Next: Following the home opener against Penn State Behrend, the Golden Eagles will ring in the new year by continuing their home stand. Brockport is set to host La Roche University on Saturday, January 3rd, with tip-off scheduled for 3 p.m. at the VLOG.