Golden Eagles in Sweet Sixteen

The Brockport Golden Eagles men’s basketball team advanced to the NCAA Division III Sweet Sixteen for the second year in a row and fifth time in school history with an 80-61 victory on their home court in second round action March 2.

The Golden Eagles never trailed, taking a 7-0 lead to start the game and leading by eight points at halftime. Trinity closed to within three points of the lead with 12 minutes left in the game, but a player scuffle at the 9:45 mark led to their point guard being ejected and Brockport scoring the next five points on their way to the 19 point win.

"We were right in there, so the call was huge at the time," said Trinity head coach Stan Ogrodnick. "I thought they should eject one from each side or let it all go. But give them credit, they (Brockport) is a good team poised to make a good run."

Several Brockport players admitted after the game that the scrum gave them an extra spark for the end of the game. Brockport head coach Nelson Whitmore said, "Their (Trinity’s) intensity was there in the second half and ours wasn’t, but we got ours back. I thought we defended real well and we thought we could score against them. Our depth and defense won this game for us."

SUNYAC Player of the Year Mike Medbury led the Golden Eagles with 18 points and was second with seven rebounds. Bob Skoczylas scored 13, Mike Masters twelve and Charlie Croff also scored in double figures with ten points. Spencerport native Brandon Mills chipped in seven points and added five rebounds. Brockport closed out the game by making 11 of their last 12 free throws to seal the win.

As the top seed in the east and ranked eighth nationally, Brockport hosted the Sweet Sixteen round by playing Amherst March 8. The winner played the winner of the University of Rochester/Babson game March 9 for the right to play in the Final Four March 15-16 in Salem, Virginia.