MBB: State University of New York Athletic Conference

[pg04]

I'd never expect you to root against Plattsburgh, of course. Right now hoping that the Golden Eagles can make it to tomorrow. The Pool C board has them as a long shot and I certainly believe it's even worse than that. I wonder if a loss tonight by Oswego would drop them from bubble to longshot as well.

I guess we have to let the games play out!

[pg04]

Is there just audio and no video? I just get a black screen and audio.

Edit: Nevermind, I see it now. Although it has Brockport vs. Plattsburgh on the Scoreboard. Whoops!

[pg04]

I'd request Magicman to get in view of the camera with a sign that says "Hi PG04" but a) he'd never see this before the game is over and b) LOL.

[pg04]

Brockport leads Cortland 39-32 at halftime. It's been a spirited battle so far. Adeniran scored 11 and Lyerly and Shamseldin both put in 8 points. Estarfaa has 10 for Cortland.

Brockport shot 64% from the field and 4/6 from 3 points. That will likely cool down a bit so they will have to dig in in the 2nd half.

[pg04]

Story I've seen before, didn't hold the lead and now it's tied at 50 6 minutes into the 2nd half.

Edit: Now it's 58-50 Cortland. Outscoring Brockport 26-11 since Halftime 

Edit 2: It's 71-69 Cortland with 4:29 left. Back and forth we go. Come on Pull this one out Brockport!

Edit 3: Cortland got it to 75-69 but Brockport stormed back and now it's tied at 75 with 51 seconds left. Timeout on the court, Great ending coming!

Cortland hits a 3 to make it 78-75. Darn it! Still 45 seconds left.

Brockport tied it at 78 but a ticky tack foul gives Cortland 2 free throws and the win 80-78. Brockport then turned it over and game over. Tough way to end the season for the Golden Eagles.

[jdex]

80-78 Cortland ...How about that!!

Ticky-tack???  Ya gotta be kidding, right??? How about just a bad foul.

And ...quite the day for RDragons. Defending national champion baseball today in Carolina downs Marietta OH 7-4 and Methodist NC 5-3 to go to 4-0

[pg04]

80-78 Cortland ...How about that!!

Ticky-tack???  Ya gotta be kidding, right???

I wish I could go back and review it. My first reaction was anger because of the loss but I'll take back the ticky-tack comment because given time passing and no ability to review it I don't think it would be fair to classify as that.

[pg04]

Also- I want to congratulate the Red Dragons on a spectacular win! They were down but came back so strong in the 2nd half. They were so good in the 2nd half that the winner of the 2nd game better watch out!!

[jdex]

Simply a terrific performance by both Cortland and Brockport. Locked horns and wouldn't be shaken .....either one.

RDragons' S. Martinez one of the main differences. Has 14 second half points with a pair of 3-pointers just when it appears the Eagles might take control. Finishes with 16 pts(6x7fg, 4x5 3s), 4 rebs in 24 minutes. C. Joseph another bulldog for the Corts. Sees 36 minutes of play and winds up with 14 pts(2x6 3s) and surprisingly was on the floor at the end despite rather known FT issues. Others were just as vital in a contest where both coaches are recognized for deploying extensive benches, and did. Both sides with clutch moments from various sources.

B. Estarfaa goes the distance for Cortland. Has 19 pts(4x9fg, 2x5 3s, 9x9ft). JP Reagan who true to his skills began getting more minutes as the season wore down has 14 pts(4x5fg, 6x6ft) 5 rebs in 31', and sr capt point guard TJ Hefele has 10 pts(3x6fg) in 34'. C. Lyerly in his usual Bport leader's cape with 18 pts(7x11fg, 4x5fg) 5 assts in 37'. H. Shamseldin finishes with 18 pts(7x9fg, 3x4 3s) 5 rebs in 30'; O Adeniran with 15 pts(6x7fg) in 26'; D. Gavin 11 pts(4x11fg, 3x5 3s).

Don't know if there was a conference game that matches the shooting by any two foes: Cortland 56% (24x43fg and 13x19 second half), 10x23 3s, 22x28ft; and Brockport 60% (30x50fg, 8x13 3s), 14x17ft and 19 assists with 7 steals. Winning numbers for either team on any other night! Corts had 23-22 board edge. Each side with 15 turnovers, certainly above the norm for CSt

As deep as this Cortland team is, don't know what Coach Span would've done with three capable big bodies had they been available. Hope it's next season we see 6-10 Z. Lydon, 6-7 J. Prendergast and 6-4 J. Cooper back on duty

[pg04]

Oswego wins 81-74 and so bubble chaos ensues.

[magicman]

I'd request Magicman to get in view of the camera with a sign that says "Hi PG04" but a) he'd never see this before the game is over and b) LOL.

You're right I wouldn't, but if they showed the Brockport bench area just 2 seconds before the National Anthem was played, I was the guy with the hat on shaking Coach Dunne's hand and wishing him good luck.

[magicman]

80-78 Cortland ...How about that!!

Ticky-tack???  Ya gotta be kidding, right???

I wish I could go back and review it. My first reaction was anger because of the loss but I'll take back the ticky-tack comment because given time passing and no ability to review it I don't think it would be fair to classify as that.

I saw that foul quite well as it happened right in front of me. It was a foul, and jdex is right...it was just a bad foul. There was only 3 seconds left on the shot clock and Blair Estarfaa was out by the 3 point line, nowhere near the basket. The last thing you do is foul the guy with the shot clock winding down after playing solid defense for 27 seconds. Cortland won this game because Brockport made some questionable choices in the final 2 minutes, which I'll get into when I write up the game a bit later.

[pg04]

I knew the Magicman would give his take on it and I accept that it was a foul at a really bad time. I agree there were some things on Brockport's end that really made me crazy.

I wonder if Cortland wins, could 3 get in? Oswego's numbers are the best of any team that isn't Plattsburgh. Should be interesting next couple of days.

[All-Time]

The Craziness continues in the SUNYAC.
Would have never picked these 2 teams midway through the season.
Cortland vs Oswego for the SUNYAC Championship.

The one great thing that comes out of this, is that the SUNYAC will have at least 2 teams in the Dance.

I have to give it to both teams and coaches. I sincerely apologize to the Oswego Lakers. After getting smacked by my Oneonta Red Dragons, I had them barely making the playoffs.
I have learned my lesson to let the season play out and not make any predictions after 1 game.
As far as Cortland is concerned they don't look like much on paper compared to some of the other SUNYAC rosters, but seem to keep all the games close and come up with huge shots at the end of games to close teams out.

What a Fantastic finish to the season.

I have to go with Brian Sortino and the Oswego Lakers today in the Championship game. Speaking of Clutch performances that kid is something else.

Enjoy the game today.

[magicman]

SUNYAC Championship

#4 Oswego State vs #2 Cortland State       4:00 PM at Plattsburgh State

Both teams played great yesterday and down the stretch made the right decisions and got key baskets at the right time. For Oswego, it was a big 3 pointer from Brian Sortino with the Lakers clinging to a 69-68 lead. That made it a 2 possession game and the Cardinals couldn't overcome the deficit. Kyle Covley got loose inside( on an assist by himself according to the play by play ) on their next trip down and that was the ballgame.

Cortland got a huge 3 pointer from Joseph Carrell when the game was tied at 75 and the shot clock was winding down. A chance for a Brockport defensive stand became a 3 point deficit as Carrell drained the shot and even though the Golden Eagles came back to tie the game up on Hamed Shamseldin's 3 point play at the other end, it guaranteed the Red Dragons would have the chance for the final possession. That led to the Blair Estarfaa free throws that proved to be the game winners.

Cortland has had the Lakers number recently, as they have won both matchups this season and 3 in a row over the past 2 years. Previous to that the Lakers had won 4 in a row. Cortland is 6-4 in the last 10 meetings but the Lakers hold a 9-6 edge over the last 6 years. This one should be another memorable game.

No matter who wins the YAC Championship we will have 2 teams in the NCAA Tournament this year. If Cortland wins this game we could get 3 teams in because Oswego would still be alive for a Pool C bid. A loss here would give them a 20-8 overall record and I think that may be enough to get them in. It will really depend on how many upsets take place in the conferences that will only get 1 bid unless the top seed loses and has to get a Pool C bid to go dancing. If Cortland loses this game I don't think they will get a Pool C bid. Their record will be 19-8 which has been good enough on occasion, in the past, but they don't have a very good SOS which, I believe, will keep them out.

The oddsmakers have made the Lakers a slim 2 point favorite in this one, despite the Red Dragons 2-0 record this year against Oswego. That may be why the Lakers are favored because of the old adage that says it's hard to beat a team 3 times in a season. Plattsburgh found that out last year as the Lakers won the 3rd meeting. Somehow I think they get it done today. Brian Sortino can take over a game when he has to and is seemingly unstoppable in key situations. I think the Lakers win this one by a 76-72 final score.

I'm rooting for the Red Dragons though because I'd like to see 3 SUNYAC teams in the NCAA tournament.