MBB: State University of New York Athletic Conference

[7express]

SUNYAC games on tap today.

Fredonia State vs Union at Nazareth. 6:00 PM

Union scrimmaged Plattsburgh State last weekend and we beat them by double digits in each half. The Dutchmen won't be that hard to handle. Unfortunately for the Blue Devils they lost 3 of their top 4 scoring threats from a team that was only 7-17 a year ago. I don't think they have the firepower to pull off a season opening victory. Oddsmakers have Union favored by 9 points. I think it might be a little closer but Fredonia goes down 71-65. Would love to see the Blue Devils prove me wrong here.

New Paltz State vs Whittier College at Redlands. Pick a time 3:00 PM or 6:00 PM.

Depending on which website you go to this game could start at 3 PM or 6 PM. I'm guessing it's the 6 PM time despite the D3hoops scoreboard and Whittier College website claiming it's a 3 PM EST start. New Paltz lost a ton of talent with the departure of Matt Devine and Shereef Taylor. Last season's  SUNYAC Rookie of the Year Deveino McRae was supposed to be a bright spot in the Hawks lineup this year, but he's no longer listed on their roster. Hawks need to replace over 50 points per game. I don't see where that will come from. The Whittier Poets return a large part of a team that went 14-12 last year. East coast teams never seem to do well when they travel to the left coast. Tomorrow the Hawks will face tournament host Redlands in the 2nd and final game of their California trip. I think they will be 0-2 when they head back east. The point spread has Whittier favored by only 2 points but I think they will win by a 75-67 score. Sure hope I'm wrong on this one though. Like to see the Hawks come home with 2 wins but they seem up against it.

Lancaster Bible at Oswego State. 8:00 PM

The Lakers found a bigger cupcake that the ones they've been munching on the past few years. Need that guaranteed free pass into your tournament championship game and the Chargers will certainly give them that. Lakers are favored by 25...anything less than that margin should constitute a loss. Lakers win 80-58.

SUNY Canton at  Potsdam State  8:00 PM

See above comments regarding Oswego vs Lancaster Bible. I know that Potsdam and Canton are only 10 miles apart and are looking at the possibilities of sharing some administration positions (at least they were the last I heard) to help cut costs but I'd just as soon pass on the sharing of athletic contests between the 2 schools. At least wait until they have transitioned into D3. It is what it is I guess. At least it's a win, and like the Lakers Potsdam will get an easy pass into the championship game of the North Country Invitational. I wonder if they flipped a coin with Clarkson to see who would get Canton and who would get Farmingdale Sate.  The Bears are favored by 18. Don't think the Kangaroos will keep it much closer. Potsdam 85 Canton 68.

Oneonta State at Rochester 8:00 PM

The Red Dragons will be a better team than last year's edition. Would be nice if Zach Mager's brother who is a new recruit on this year's team is as talented as Zach. Lots of returning players but still not ready for prime time. Rochester lost the D3 Player of the Year but still returns enough talent to win this one. Oddsmakers have favored the Yellowjackets by 17 points. I think Oneonta can keep it closer than that but will fall by a 75-65 final.

Good luck to all the SUNYAC teams. I wish we could win them all. Hopefully throughout the year the stronger teams in the conference will more than hold their own against the tough out of conference matchups that we'll see this year.             

Good commentary as always Magic!  The only thing I'll disagree with is the bolded part.  You said anything less than a 25 point win would be considered a loss, yet you only have them winning by 22.

[magicman]

7 express,

Thanks for the plug. I know I only had Oswego State winning by 22. I consider it a loss. If I was betting on the game I'd probably take the points.

I discovered after I posted that Potsdam and Clarkson didn't need to flip a coin to see who played SUNY Canton. They just change partners for the Saturday games. Potsdam plays Farmingdale State and Clarkson plays SUNY Canton. In fact Clarkson enjoys playing SUNY Canton so much that they will play them again 4 days later on November 20th.  The Golden Knights must be hoping to match last year's 17 total wins.  

[Bengalsrule]

Diito on Magic's good luck to all 'Yac teams. This is the time of year where we make our ratings go up (Currently 15th out of 47... up 2 since last week). I listened to Hoopsville last night and it sounds like regional rankings could come out as early as January! Some other things were sort of confusing on the show, with regards to rankings, but I'll let Magic and Thebear figure that 1 out!

Good luck SUNYAC....let the games begin!

[magicman]

Fredonia State pulls out a win over Union as they come from 12 down in the 2nd half to beat the Dutchmen 98-89.

The Blue Devils had the lead at the break 50-42 but Union pulled within 2 on several occasions in the 1st 4 minutes of the 2nd period. The Dutchmen, down 61-60, finally caught them and went ahead 63-61 on a 3 pointer with 13:42 left to play. It looked like the Blue Devils had called it quits as Union outscored them 20- 8 over the next 7 minutes and built a lead of 81-69 with 6:55 left in the game. Back came the Blue Devils however with a 21-4 run of their own and went back in front 90-85 with 3:28 to go. Twice the Dutchmen got it to within 3 but Fredonia wouldn't be denied as they opened up 9 point lead to close this one out.

Sophomore guard Robert Lyles was the big gun for the Blue Devils as he poured in 32 points (10x23 fg , 4x11 3's, 8x8 ft) and led the team with 8 rebounds as well. Kevin Federation had 18 points on 5x9 shooting with all 5 field goals coming from downtown. Alexander Grace, John Kovach, and Markus Williams all hit double figures with 11 points each.

Fredonia grabs the 1st SUNYAC win of the season. Good job guys I'm glad I was wrong with my pick and I'd like to think the Blue Devils may have gotten some timely information from my Cardinals who handled Union last week in a scrimmage.   

[magicman]

It looks like New Paltz also came from behind out in California as I just saw a posted final score that has the Hawks in front 69-66 over Whittier. Taylor Sowah with 15 and Nick Taldi returns from a year off with 13 to lead New Paltz.

Hawks were down by as much as 7 in the 1st half but closed to within 3 at the break 35-32. It remained no more than a two possession game for the first 7 minutes of the 2nd period and once again the Poets opened up a 7 point lead at 50-43 with 13:09 left to play. New Paltz hung in there and the lead fluctuated between 4 and 6 points over  the next 7 minutes until the Hawks got within a point at 59-58 on an old fashioned 3 point play by Alex Perlman with 5:24 remaining. 30 seconds later the Hawks had the lead when Andrew Joseph buried a jumper. The Poets hit 2 free throws to regain the edge at 61-60.  The Hawks' Sowah hit 1 of 2 from the line and shortly thereafter got loose inside for a layup and the Hawks were never headed down the stretch. A 3 pointer by RJ Rosa with 2:07 left pushed the lead to 66-61 but the Poets hit a 3 of their own on the next possession to once again tighten things up at 66-64. The Hawks hit 1 of 2 from the line and the Poets hit 2 free throws to make it 67-66 with 1:03 left. With several chances from the line due to offensive rebounding by the Hawks they were able to tack on 2 more free throws in 4 attempts for the final margin of victory.   

Another nice win for the YAC when you least expect it. Good job Hawks... get another one tomorrow against Redlands.

[magicman]

Potsdam State losing to SUNY Canton  50-43 with 15 minutes to go in the 2nd half.  That's not something I'm very pleased to report.

[magicman]

Oswego leads Lancaster Bible 57-44 with 3:55 to go.

Potsdam still trails SUNY Canton 61-56 with 4:50 to play.

[magicman]

Couldn't watch video of this game because poor University of Rochester wants to charge 6.95 to see the videocast. Did just pull up a live stats page to see what the score is. Heavens to murgatroy!!!! Oneonta State has pulled off the upset of the Yellowjackets as they defeat Rochester 95-80. Nice win for the Red Dragons. One of my favorite players
Zack Mager rattled the nets for 31 points. 4 other Red Dragon players hit for double digits. Great job guys.

[magicman]

Potsdam finally gets the lead against SUNY Canton 70-69 and the Bears Joe Estramonte is at the line for 2 free throws with 38 seconds left. He misses both of them however and Canton gets the rebound and calls time out. Canton inbounds the ball brings it down and calls another time out with 20 seconds left. Canton once again inbounds the ball and goes inside but they miss on the drive and the Bears Brandon Williams grabs the rebound and is fouled with 5 seconds left. he misses the 1st hits the 2nd and Canton crosses half court and takes another time out with 2 seconds left. They inbound the ball and miss the field goal attempt and the Bears "Bare"ly hang on to claim a 71-69 final. I know it's a win but it feels like a loss. I've either ranked Potsdam too high in my earlier review of the YAC or the Kangaroos have one heck of a team that's a well kept secret. We'll see how the Golden Knights of Clarkson handle them since they play Canton twice in the next 5 days. 

If Oswego hangs on against Lancaster Bible which they should the Yac will go undefeated in the first night of action.   Wonder when the last time that happened if ever.

[magicman]

And it is a final in Oswego as the Lakers hang on to defeat the Bible school 62-50.

The SUNYAC goes to 5-0 for the young season.

[Bengalsrule]

5-0 night.  Hot damn!!!!!!!

[magicman]

5-0 night.  Hot damn!!!!!!!

I knew you'd like that, buddy.


Just got off the phone with Coach Curle. He's in New jersey getting ready for Bridgewater State tomorrow. He's feeling real proud right now as his daughter who is a freshman at Bowdoin started in the very first game of her college career. She had 7 points and a few rebounds in 19 minutes of action. Would have probably played more but had 2 fouls in the 1st 7 minutes of the 1st half and had to go to the bench.   

[Ethelred the Unready]

5-0 night.  Hot damn!!!!!!!

I knew you'd like that, buddy.


Just got off the phone with Coach Curle. He's in New jersey getting ready for Bridgewater State tomorrow. He's feeling real proud right now as his daughter who is a freshman at Bowdoin started in the very first game of her college career. She had 7 points and a few rebounds in 19 minutes of action. Would have probably played more but had 2 fouls in the 1st 7 minutes of the 1st half and had to go to the bench.

Small world....my nephew is the SID at Bowdoin

[jdex]

Cortland 61, Medaille 59 in Buffalo

K. McMahon 25pts(10x18fg, 1x3 3s, 4x5ft), 8rebs in 36'....L. Herron 17 pts (6x7ft, 5x13fg), 7reb, 5pf in 32' for Corts. Knotted at 29 at half. Tight throughout. C-St by 7 in second half. TJ Hefele ( 4assts in 33') hits big three late and G. Spendjian adds clutch points down the stretch. Medaille ace J. Coleman (20 pts, 10x11ft) brings host within bucket at 0:05. Steal follows and Medaille misses at 0:02. McMahon fouled and misses at the horn. .......

And, oh, on the gridiron .....Underdog Cortland 28, Ithaca 24 with a TD bomb to J. Babin at 0:67 at IC!! Fourth straight Cortaca victory. Methnks this season best coaching job by Coach Mac in 17 year helmsmanship

Anyone else hate these live stat Sidearm Sports? Don't tell you a heckava lot IMO. Not to mention a $6 video charge at Medaille. We passed ...  In contrast, great IC football video!!

[magicman]

Close win by Cortland. YAC stretches their streak to 6-0. Potsdam Bears up next as they are playing Farmingdale State at the moment in a game that started at 3 PM. The Bears are up 37-30 early in the 2nd half.

jdex,

I agree those  live stats are confusing. Took me a while to figure them out and I much prefer the way it was done before.
Nice win by the Red Dragons in the Cortaca Bowl. Bragging rights till next year!