Devils drop opener at Elmira
Sports Information Department – 112 Dods Hall
Phone (716) 673-3100 / Fax (716) 673-3136
CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
Sports Information Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Men's basketball
ELMIRA, N .Y. -- Fredonia State opened opened its regular season with a 83-77 loss at Elmira College.
Brad Cooper (Monticello) led the Blue Devils with 17 points on 7 of 11 shooting from the field. Greg MacBride (Clifton Springs/Newark) and Amir Billups (Buffalo/Starpoint) added 15 points.
The Blue Devils led during the early part of the first half. Their largest advantage was six points twice, 14-8 and 17-11, on consecutive three-pointers by MacBride and Damien
Goodwin II (Buffalo/East).
Elmira closed out the first half with a 12-2 run to take a 37-28 lead at intermission.
The Blue Devils went on a 19-3 run early in the second half. Cooper had 10 points and Kyle Mitchell (Lake Luzerne/Hadley Luzerne) added seven during the rally.
The teams then traded the leads before a basket by Billups with 10:51 left forged a 55-55 tie. Elmira re-took the lead and led the rest of the way.
The key stats of the game was a matter of eights. Elmira had eight more three-point baskets and eight more free throws. That offset Fredonia State's 54.7 field goal accuracy (29 of 53).
The Blue Devils return to action Wednesday at Penn State Behrend. Game time is 8 p.m.