BROCKPORT, NY – The SUNY Brockport men's basketball team (7-11, 3-6 E8) returned to The Vlog on Friday night, dropping a tight 81-76 decision to Russell Sage (17-2, 9-1 E8). Despite a resilient second-half performance and outscoring the Gators in the paint, the Golden Eagles were unable to overcome a significant scoring run and consistent foul trouble.

The contest began as a defensive stalemate, with Brockport maintaining a 34-27 lead with just over three minutes remaining in the first half. However, the Gators' full-court press began to shift the momentum as Russell Sage ignited a decisive scoring surge to close the period and open the second half. The run was capped at the 14:48 mark of the second half by a tip-in layup from Jeremy Rosario, which pushed the Gator lead to its largest margin of the night at 53-39.

Brockport fought back valiantly, outscoring the Gators 40-39 in the second half and eventually cutting the lead to a single possession late in the game. While the Green and Gold utilized their defensive pressure to stay in the hunt, the whistle was blown frequently throughout the night for both squads. Foul trouble became a major story as four total players were disqualified from the contest; both Omar White and Camron Dyer fouled out for the Golden Eagles, while Khalel Noteman and Kyle Dhu fouled out for the Gators.

By the Numbers

Shooting efficiency told part of the story, as Brockport finished at 39.7% (29-73) from the field. The Golden Eagles struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 7.7% (2-26), while the Gators converted 30.4% (7-23) of their long-range attempts.

Brockport found its greatest success in the interior, outscoring Sage 50-38 in points in the paint. The Green and Gold also dominated the offensive glass, hauling in 16 offensive rebounds which led to 14 second-chance points. Defensively, Brockport's active hands forced 25 Gator turnovers, resulting in 15 points off turnovers and a season-high 17 steals.

Top Performers

Pharell Aybar led the scoring effort with a team-high 19 points, showcasing his ability to get to the line where he shot 6-of-7. He added four assists and two steals to a versatile stat line in 33 minutes of action.

Omar White was a force on both ends of the floor before fouling out, finishing with 13 points on efficient 5-of-7 shooting. White stuffed the stat sheet with eight rebounds, five assists, and four steals, while also providing a rim-protecting presence with two blocks.

Jacob Oka provided a major spark off the bench, contributing 14 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Oka was a defensive anchor, leading the team with six steals while also pulling down five rebounds.

Camron Dyer added 16 points and six rebounds to the effort, recording three steals and two blocks before being disqualified with five fouls.

Christian Amica also reached double figures off the bench, tallying 12 points and three rebounds while shooting 4-of-6 from the charity stripe.

Up Next: The Golden Eagles will look to bounce back tomorrow as they remain at home to host Hartwick College. Tip-off is scheduled for Saturday, January 31st, at 4 p.m.