Brockport Defeats SUNY New Paltz, 105-87

NEW PALTZ, NY — The Brockport men’s basketball team exploded for 58, second half points to defeat SUNY New Paltz 105-87 this afternoon at Elting Gym.

The Golden Eagles, who shot 66 percent from the floor in the second half, stretched a five-point halftime lead to 11 in the first 1:30 of the second half. SUNY New Paltz then used a 9-0 run to make it a 53-51 game with 16 minutes to play. Brockport answered the Hawks run with a 9-0 spurt of their own to extend the lead back to 11, 62-51, with 14 minutes to play.

The Golden Eagles’ lead wavered between 10 and 12 points for the next seven minutes until SUNY New Paltz (8-9, 3-6) trimmed the margin to nine with seven minutes to play on a basket by sophomore forward Amseshem Foluke-Henderson (Jamaica, NY). Henderson’s basket cut the Golden Eagles lead to 75-66, but Brockport responded with a three-pointer by senior forward Kellan Skrine (Henrietta, NY) on its next possession to push the lead back to double figures. Skrine came off the bench to lead the Golden Eagles with 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting.

From there, Brockport (11-5, 5-3) pulled away and stretched the lead to as many as 19 with three minutes to play. Sophomore forward Dan Rubertone (Smithtown, NY) added 16 points on 8-of-12 shooting as well. As a team, the Golden Eagles shot .600 (42-of-70) for the game.

Sophomore forward John Hauser (East Williston, VT) tied his career-high with 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting and four, three-point field goals. Junior guard Maurice Douglas, who helped keep the Hawks close with 16 first-half points, finished with 23 points and seven rebounds. Foluke-Henderson finished with 12 points despite sitting the final 15 minutes of the first half with two fouls.

While SUNY New Paltz trailed for most of the first half, the Hawks deficit never went beyond five. SUNY New Paltz led by one on two occasions and took a three-point lead with 1:30 left in the half after Brockport Head Coach Nelson Whitmore was hit with a technical foul. After three made free throws put the Hawks in front 42-39, Brockport scored the last five points of the first half to take a 47-42 lead at the intermission.