BROCKPORT, NY – The postseason energy is returning to the Jim and John Vlogianitis Gymnasium. After a statement victory in the opening round, the No. 5-seeded SUNY Brockport men's basketball team is set to host a high-stakes Empire 8 Tournament Semifinal matchup.
The Golden Eagles will welcome the No. 8-seeded St. John Fisher University Cardinals on Wednesday, February 25th, at 6 p.m. With a trip to the Empire 8 Championship on the line, the Green and Gold look to defend their home court and continue their late-season surge.
Freshman Firepower Fuels First-Round Win
Brockport enters the semifinals following a dominant 84-75 road victory over No. 4 SUNY Poly in the tournament's first round. The Golden Eagles put on an offensive clinic, shooting a blistering 58.5% from the field for the game.
The second half was the difference-maker; after entering the break tied at 39-39, Brockport exploded to shoot 66.67% (16-24) in the final 20 minutes. Defensively, the Golden Eagles locked down the perimeter, holding the Wildcats to just 14.29% from deep in the second half.
The future of the program was on full display as three of the four Golden Eagles in double figures were freshmen.
Ajani Flemming was clinical from the perimeter, leading all Brockport scorers with 19 points and five triples.
Jacob Oka was in attack mode for all 28 minutes, nearly recording a double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds on 8-of-11 shooting.
Cameron Pownall delivered a perfect shooting performance, going 6-of-6 from the field to finish with 14 points. Meanwhile,
Pharell Aybar served as the primary facilitator for the offense, matching Pownall with 14 points and recording a team-high five assists.
History in the Making: Aybar 6x ROTW
The Empire 8 Conference announced on Monday, February 23rd, that freshman
Pharell Aybar has been named the Men's Basketball Rookie of the Week. This selection marks the sixth time this season the Washington Heights, NY native has received the honor, the most Empire 8 Rookie of the Week selections in Brockport Men's Basketball history.
Aybar has been the high-octane engine for the Golden Eagles, averaging 18.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists over the last week of play. His record-breaking freshman campaign has solidified him as the backcourt anchor for the Green and Gold as they head into the deepest waters of the postseason.
Scouting The Cardinals
The No. 8 seed St. John Fisher Cardinals arrive at The Vlog as the ultimate "bracket busters." In a stunning first-round upset, the Cardinals knocked off the tournament's No. 1 seed, Russell Sage, to keep their season alive. Wednesday's matchup includes a premier showdown between two of the Empire 8's top freshmen. The Cardinals are led by Mekhi Gidney, who is coming off a team-high 17-point performance in the upset over Sage.
This contest marks the first postseason matchup between the two programs as members of the Empire 8. The season series is currently split at 1-1; the Cardinals took the first meeting of the season at the Jim and John Vlogianitis Gymnasium in early January, 77-63, but the Golden Eagles answered back with a 94-85 road win later in the season. In that victory, Aybar dropped a career-high 29 points on a clinical 12-of-19 shooting, while Gidney countered with a 23-point effort of his own. The Golden Eagles will look to replicate their offensive efficiency to secure a spot in the conference finals.
Up Next: The winner of Wednesday's contest will advance to the Empire 8 Championship game on Saturday, February 28th, with an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line.
