Brockport, NY- The top-seeded Brockport men's basketball team defeated visiting Geneseo, 87-66, on Saturday. The Golden Eagles moved to 17-9 overall and 14-2 in Empire 8 contests, advancing to the Empire 8 Tournament Semifinals where they will host SUNY Poly on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
 
Zachary Rice led the SUNY Brockport basketball team with a standout performance, scoring 22 points, including four 3-pointers, and grabbing nine rebounds.
 
Tony Arnold was effective on both ends of the court, contributing 16 points on 6 of 9 shooting and securing five steals.
 
Mekhi Beckett also added 16 points in an effective effort, shooting 6 of 11 from the field.
 
Jakhi Lucas facilitated the offense with a team-high five assists and added two steals.
 
Alex Tavarez scored 11 points while shooting 5 of 7 from the field and provided four assists.
 
The Golden Eagles opened the contest with a strong offensive performance, highlighted by Alex Tavarez, who scored a series of key baskets, including a 3-pointer at 17:15 to tie the game at 5-5.
 
Brockport maintained momentum in the first with contributions from Zachary Rice and Tony Arnold, both adding critical points that kept Brockport ahead. Brockport's defensive efforts were evident with 14 defensive rebounds, allowing the squad to finish the half leading 41-36 over the Knights.
 
In the second half, SUNY Brockport's offense was highlighted by Zachary Rice, who contributed significantly with back-to-back consecutive 3-pointers at 18:38 and 18:20. Colby Jordan added to the momentum with a successful layup at 19:21, followed by another jumper at 17:38.
 
Tony Arnold played a pivotal role later in the half, securing multiple defensive rebounds and scoring crucial points, including a fast-break layup at 11:44, which was part of a scoring streak that extended the lead.
 
Brockport's defense was effective, forcing turnovers and capitalizing on them, as seen with Tony Arnold's steal and layup at 9:09, helping to maintain a lead throughout the half, ultimately resulting in a 46-30 scoring advantage over the Knights in the second half.
 
Brockport would dominate the rebounding battle, out-rebounding Geneseo 44-29 on the day.
 
Up Next: Brockport will play host to SUNY Poly on Wednesday, February 26^th, with the time of the contest still to be determined.