The SUNY Poly men's basketball team is heading to the Empire 8 championship game after a thrilling 92-89 victory over No. 1 seed SUNY Brockport. The Wildcats overcame an early deficit with a dominant second-half performance, led by standout efforts from Anthony Rose, Cheickne Toure, and Kamryn Comstock, who each recorded double-doubles. The win sets up a showdown with cross-town rival Utica University for the conference title
How It Happened
Brockport came out strong, with Alex Tavarez setting the tone by scoring the first two buckets of the game. After a slow start, Anthony Rose got the Wildcats on the board with a tough layup, but Brockport's Zachary Rice answered with a three-pointer to extend the early lead.
Despite missed opportunities at the free-throw line, Toure and Rose kept SUNY Poly in striking distance, attacking the paint and making key stops on defense. A strong inside presence from Tavarez helped Brockport maintain control, but the Wildcats continued to battle.
As the first half wound down, SUNY Poly's resilience was on full display. Toure's fast-break layup and a clutch jumper from Rose chipped away at the deficit, but Brockport still held a 5-point lead heading into the break.
Second-Half Surge
The momentum shifted in the second half, thanks to Kamryn Comstock, who dominated both ends of the floor. A tip-in and a three-pointer from Comstock kept the Wildcats within reach, but Brockport's Jacob Oka responded with free throws to maintain the advantage.
Each time Brockport tried to pull away, SUNY Poly had an answer. Comstock, Elijah Smith, and Daimarr Miller delivered crucial plays, closing the gap. Miller's layup at the 12-minute mark gave the Wildcats their first lead of the second half, 69-67.
The teams continued to trade blows down the stretch. Brockport leaned on Mekhi Beckett and Colby Jordan, while SUNY Poly's trio of Miller, Toure, and Comstock made clutch plays to keep their team in front.
With under three minutes remaining, Comstock's relentless effort on the offensive glass led to key second-chance points, giving SUNY Poly an 86-83 advantage. A final defensive stand in the closing seconds sealed the dramatic 92-89 comeback victory.
"What a big-time win by our guys!" said head coach Rob Schoener. "Hostile road environment, we played awful the first 12 minutes... but they just stuck together and kept grinding. So proud of them and excited to compete for a championship on Saturday! I hope to see all our friends, families, Poly Wildcats, and staff at Utica Saturday afternoon."
Up Next
With the upset victory, the Wildcats advance to the Empire 8 Championship, where they will battle Utica University for the title. Tip-off is set for Saturday, March 1st, at 3:00 PM.