BROCKPORT, NY – The SUNY Brockport men's basketball team (5-5, 1-0 Empire 8) successfully "protected the nest" on Tuesday night, securing a gritty 83-71 victory over Elmira College (5-5, 0-1 Empire 8) to open conference play. In a contest defined by defensive havoc and second-half adjustments, the Golden Eagles remained perfect at "The Vlog" this season, extending their home winning streak to 3-0.

Defensive Havoc: For the second consecutive game, Brockport's defensive unit was a nightmare for the opposition, matching their season-high with 17 steals. The Green and Gold's activity in the passing lanes and relentless ball pressure were the primary catalysts, forcing Elmira into 26 total turnovers. Brockport was elite at turning defense into instant offense, converting those miscues into 23 points off turnovers and 20 fast-break points

Tale of Two Halves: The Golden Eagles surged out of the gate with a blistering start, utilizing a suffocating defense to build a 17-6 lead within the first seven minutes of play. However, the Soaring Eagles refused to fold, orchestrating a 14-2 rally to fight back into the contest. After a first half that saw eight lead changes and four ties, Brockport held a narrow 35-32 edge at the intermission.

Coming out of the break, the Golden Eagles found a higher gear offensively. After shooting 35.29% from the floor in the first half, Brockport's FG% increased to 45.95% in the second half. The game remained a dogfight until the final minutes, where Brockport's composure at the "charity stripe" proved decisive. Capitalizing on Elmira's foul trouble, the Golden Eagles knocked down six of their last six free throws in the final two minutes to seal the win

Total Team Effort: Six in Double Figures

The victory was powered by a balanced attack, with six Golden Eagles reaching double figures, highlighting the depth and versatility of the roster.

• In his first start for the Green and Gold, Jack Clancy rose to the occasion. He tied for the team high with 13 points, showcasing elite perimeter defense and counting his pennies at the line (8-11). He also hauled in five boards and dished out two assists.
• Omar White was an absolute force, stuffing the stat sheet and playing every possession like it was his last. He matched the team lead with 13 points on an efficient 6-of-10 shooting, but his impact was felt everywhere; he anchored the defense with four blocks and four steals, while adding four rebounds and two assists in a dominant two-way display.
• Pharell Aybar showcased his rhythm as a two-way threat, tallying 13 points and knocking down 2-of-4 from behind the arc. He showcased elite rebounding from the point guard spot, scrapping for a team-high seven rebounds to go along with four assists and four steals, impacting the game in every facet.
• Marco Evans was relentless from the jump, attacking the glass and applying suffocating full-court pressure. He harassed the Elmira backcourt for the duration of his minutes, finishing with 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting. Evans picked up a block and a steal while never letting the Soaring Eagle ball-handlers get going.
• Establishing himself as a centerpiece of the Golden Eagle squad, Camron Dyer turned in an elite all-around performance. He orchestrated the offense with six assists and tallied 10 points, while his defensive activity was high-level, racking up four steals and two blocks to ignite the Brockport transition game.
• Providing a massive spark off the bench, Amica served as a disruptive two-way catalyst. He finished with 10 points, including a three-pointer that sparked Brockport's momentum, but his biggest impact came on the defensive end where he displayed the versatility to guard both the perimeter and the paint, shutting down Elmira's comeback attempts.

Up Next: With the conference schedule now in full swing, the Golden Eagles will look to carry that home-court momentum into their next league test. Brockport prepares for more Empire 8 action as they host St. John Fisher on Friday, January 9th. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at the Jim and John Vlogianitis Gymnasium.