BROCKPORT, N.Y.—
Lovell Smith (Buffalo/McKinley) netted 26 points and No. 6 Buffalo State made a late charge to cut the deficit to one, but it was not enough as host No. 3-seeded Brockport held on for an 82-78 victory tonight in a SUNYAC Quarterfinal contest.
THE BASICSFINAL SCORE: Brockport – 82, Buffalo State - 78
LOCATION: Jim and John Vlogianitis Gymnasium – Brockport, N.Y.
RECORDS: Brockport (17-9), Buffalo State (15-11)
HOW IT HAPPENED- Smith shot 9 of 16 from the field and was 8 of 14 at the free throw line, while adding seven rebounds.
- Michael Henry (Syracuse/W. Genesee) added 18 points and eight boards.
- Nico McLean (Buffalo/Amherst) chipped in 17 points and seven rebounds.
- Brockport jumped out to a 17-9 lead to open the game which proved to be its biggest advantage of the game.
- The Bengals trailed 38-34 at halftime, but made an early run in the second half to take a five-point lead at 52-47.
- The teams traded the lead and remained deadlocked at 67-67 with five minutes remaining, but Brockport broke the tie with an 8-1 run to take a seven-point lead with 1:58 remaining.
- The Bengals responded with an 8-2 run, however, to cut the deficit to just on at 77-76 with 53 seconds remaining, but Brockport would seal the win hitting five of six free throws in the final minute.
- Buffalo State shot 41 percent from the field, but was just 2 of 16 from 3-point range. Brockport only attempted seven 3-pointers, hitting two.
- Each team was charged with just 11 turnovers.
FOR THE FOES- Hamed Shamseldin led four Brockport players scoring in double-figures with 24 points.
- Olusola Adeniran added 13 points and eight rebounds.
- Clifton Lyerly had 11 points, seven boards and seven assists, and Devonn Gavin netted 10 points.
UP NEXTBuffalo State finishes the season 15-11. Brockport advances to Friday's semifinals at Plattsburgh against No. 2 Cortland at 5:30 p.m. The winner of that contest will face the winner of No. 1 Plattsburgh and No. 4 Oswego in the title game on Saturday at 4 p.m.
