Building momentum
Sports Information Department – 112 Dods Hall
Phone (716) 673-3100 / Fax (716) 673-3136
CONTACT: Matt Palisin,
Sports Information Dept.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Men's basketball
(BOX SCORE: Fredonia State 71, Cortland 68)
FREDONIA, N.Y. -- The Fredonia State men's basketball team defeated Cortland 71-68 in the regular-season finale at Steele Hall on Saturday.
With front-court mate Kevin Saunders (Batavia) sitting out due to injury, junior guard Brad Cooper (Monticello) picked up the scoring burden, finishing with a career-high 32 points. Senior guard Wayne Davis (Binghamton) added 17.
In a game that was close throughout, Cortland held a slim 34-33 advantage at halftime. That would be their final lead of the game, as the Devils scored first and led throughout the second half.
Up 68-66 with 24.5 seconds left, Fredonia State's Julius Bryant (Buffalo/Hutch Tech) made both free throws put the Devils up by four.
Cortland's Ezra Scott brought the Dragon's back to within two, 70-68, with a layup with 10.8 seconds left.
Scott Valenta (Binghamtom) made the front end of two free throws with 9.7 seconds left to put the Devils up 71-68.
Cortland's Carson Niehoff missed a three pointer at the buzzer as the Devils clinched the win.
Cortland was led by Juan Miolan with 18 points. Niehoff had 17 off the bench. They fall to 11-14 overall and 8-8 in the SUNYAC, making them the No. 7 seed.
The Devils improve to 16-8 overall, marking the most wins in head coach Kevin Moore's tenure. The Devils final conference mark is 10-6. The 10 conference wins are the most since 2000-01 when they went 12-8.
The Devils head in to the SUNYAC Tournament as the fifth seed. Thier opponent will be determined by the result of Saturday evening's Geneseo-Brockport game. Should Geneseo lose, there would be a four-way tie for first with each team at 11-5. As it stands, Buffalo State, Oswego and Oneonta have completed their seasons at 11-5.
The game was also the final home game for seniors Davis and Bryan Morse (Beacon).