Comeback bid falls short in SUNYAC title game
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Men's basketball
OSWEGO, N.Y. -- When a furious comeback fell short, Fredonia State's bid to win its first SUNYAC championship since 1993 ended Saturday with a 64-59 loss to Brockport in the tournament title game at SUNY Oswego.
The Blue Devils' fate was sealed early via a 19-0 run during an eight-minute span in the first half. They battled back to within three points in the final minute, but could not avoid a third loss to Brockport this season.
Fredonia State's Brad Cooper (Monticello) and Julius Bryant (Buffalo/Hutch Tech) were named to the all-tournament team.
Cooper, a junior guard, led the Blue Devil comeback with seven points in the final minute and 17 in the game. Sophomore forward Freshman guard Leonard Smith (Brooklyn/Nazareth Regional) added 11 points and Bryant, a sophomore forward, had 10 points -- nine in the first half -- and 11 rebounds. Mychal Wilkes led Brockport with 27 points.
After being down 25-6, Fredonia State worked itself back to win 31-24 at halftime despite shooting only 30 percent in the first half (they improved to 38 percent by the end of the game). The Blue Devils missed their first six shots to open the second half before a three-point basket by junior Greg MacBride (Clifton Springs/Newark) ended a 6-0 Brockport run with 16:08 left.
The Blue Devils pulled within seven points twice in the next few minutes, only to fall back by double figures. But they refused to die and, led by Cooper's three straight baskets and a layup by Smith, pulled to within 60-57 with 32 seconds left. Smith had a chance for a three-point play but missed the free throw.
After two free throws Wilkes, Smith made another layup with :10 to go. Wilkes iced the game by sinking two more free throws with :07 left.
Turnovers played a part in the outcome. The Golden Eagles outscored the Blue Devils, 21-16, in points off turnovers. Fredonia State had a 38-21 rebounding advantage and a 20-3 advantage in second-chance points.
It was the seventh SUNYAC men's basketball title for Brockport, this time as the No. 8 seed in the eight-team bracket. The Golden Eagles improved to 14-14 and earned the automatic NCAA bid. The Brockport women also won the SUNYAC title earlier in the day with a victory over Potsdam.
Fredonia State reached the title game as the No. 5 seed and fell to 18-9. The Blue Devils will await word on a possible bid to the ECAC Upstate New York Tournament. The field will be announced Monday.