GENESEO, N.Y. - SUNY Genseo junior forward Gordon Lyons scored 25 points and grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds but it was No. 18 Brockport holding on for a 66-62 victory over the Knights, Tuesday night, in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) men's basketball.
Brockport senior guard John Ivey scored a game-high 26 points, including 17 in the final 10 minutes of play, to lead the Golden Eagles ( 18-2, 12-2 SUNYAC) to the win.
"I thought we fought hard and I am incredibly proud of our effort," said head coach Steve Minton. "Our guys played a great game, as did Brockport which managed to be a few points better at the end. If the effort we gave tonight continues the rest of the season, I am confident that we will put ourselves in position to win every time."
Neither team led by more than five points on a night that saw 12 lead changes and 14 ties. Tied, 54-54, with 3:13 remaining in regulation, Brockport's Brandon Caruthers would tip in a missed Ivey jumper to put the visitors up by two. The Knights would miss on their ensuing possessions and Ivey would nail a three-pointer from the left corner to put Brockport up five, 59-54, with 2:38 remaining.
Geneseo senior guard Thomas Decker would respond with a three-pointer of his own from the top of the key to make it a two-point game, before Ivey converted another layup to make it a four-point game, 61-57, with 1:54 to play.
Lyons would draw a foul and convert two free throws at 1:37, before Brockport's Patrick Coyle would get loose for a dunk at 1:21. Decker would splash another three pointer to make it a one-point Knights' deficit, 63-62, with 1:12 on the clock, but Ivey would draw contact in the paint on the ensuing possession and convert both free throw attempts to stake the visitors to a 65-62 lead with 1:04 to play.
Brockport would head back to the line on their next possession following a missed three-point attempt by Decker and a foul, but Clifton Lyerly would miss both shots to keep Geneseo within one field goal with 29 seconds on the clock. Brockport's Patrick Cole would come up with a big block on the Knights' next possession and, with 13 seconds remaining, Caruthers would head back to the free throw line to hit the second of two shots to put the visitors up by the final four-point margin.
A pair of Genseo three-point attempts came up short in the final eight seconds as Brockport held on for its second victory over the Knights in 10 days following a 73-68 decision in overtime at home on Jan. 1.
Decker's pair of three-pointers down the stretch were the Knights' only two field goals from long range as the team finished 2-of-14 on the evening, while Brockport was able to hit on 8-of-25 of their attempts from long-range, including four by Matt Lee in the first half. Ivey was limited to three points in the first 20 minutes of play, before turing it on in the second half for 23 points.
Geneseo senior forward Matt Curry finished the night with 13 points and eight boards, while senior guard Connor Fedge added 14 points in the loss.
The Knights hit the road for a two-game swing this weekend, taking on host Fredonia on Friday at 8:00 p.m., before heading to Buffalo State for a 4:00 tip on Saturday.