Sports Information Department – 112 Dods Hall
Phone (716) 673-3100 / Fax (716) 673-3136

CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
Sports Information Director

DATE: Tues., Jan. 24, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Men's Basketball

Devils hang on to defeat Brockport

FREDONIA, N.Y. -- Fredonia State took a big early lead and then turned back a furious comeback attempt by Brockport for a 64-56 SUNYAC home win Tuesday.

The Blue Devils (8-8, 3-5 SUNYAC), up by as many as 28 points in the first half, needed late heroics by seniors Tim Anderson (Jamestown/Jamestown) and Devin Watkins (Franklinville/Franklinville) before the outcome was decided.

Junior Taha Alassari (Brooklyn/Sweet Home) finished with 15 points and Anderson had 14 plus team-highs with six rebounds and six assists.

For Brockport (8-8, 4-3 SUNYAC), senior Jerry Cheves (Brockport/Bropckport) showed the way with 16 points. Junior Dan Rubertone (Smithtown/Smithtown West) added 15 and senior Ben Bellucci (Cicero/Cicero-North Syracuse) was held to 13 after averaging 31.3 points in three SUNYAC games last week.

The No. 1 scoring team in the conference at 85.5 points per game, Brockport came out cold as ice and fell behind 17-2 after just over 10 minutes. Fredonia State pushed its advantage out to 35-7 -- its largest lead -- on two free throws by Anderson with 4:48 in the first half before Brockport finally started finding the range. The Golden Eagles made four three-pointers -- two by Bellucci to go along with two free throws -- in the final 4:34 of the half to cut their deficit to 39-22 at intermission.

Brockport continued to battle back throughout the second half and drew within two points twice and one point one time, 55-54, on a three-point play by Rubertone with 3:45 left.

Anderson pushed the Fredonia State advantage to four points, 58-54, with a three-point basket following a missed shot, a wild scramble, and a rebound by senior Chris Donahue (Olean/Olean). With 1:39 left, Anderson fed sophomore Kyle Gordon (Canandaigua/Canandaigua) underneath for a lay-up and a 60-54 Fredonia State lead.

Watkins then nailed the door shut on Brockport when he grabbed a rebound and scored on a putback from an improbable angle beneath his team's basket. Donahue added two free throws in the final seconds.

The Blue Devils have won three of their last four games heading into the weekend road trip -- Friday at Oswego, Saturday at New Paltz.

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