POTSDAM, N.Y.- Strong offense from College at Brockport (14-11, 11-7 SUNYAC) sends the Golden Eagles over the SUNY Potsdam men's basketball team (2-22, 1-17 SUNYAC) Saturday afternoon in their season finale with a score of 97-59 on Senior Day at Jerry Welsh Gymnasium. Junior guard Joe Estramonte (Greenwich, N.Y./Greenwich) led the Bears with 18 points and four assists, while sophomore guard Clifton Lyerly (Inwood, N.Y./Lawrence) finished with 19 points and four assists for Brockport.
 
The Golden Eagles offense wasted no time jumping on the Bears. A layup from junior guard Patrick Modzelewski (Brooklyn, N.Y./Msgr. McClancy) started the 24-3 run that last over nine minutes of the first half. Freshman guard Tishsean Emmanuel (Brooklyn, N.Y./Nazareth) tried to slow down Brockport with a 3-pointer, but the Golden Eagles answered with another 17-5 run. Senior forward Mike Gallagher (Schenectady, N.Y./Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons) drained two threes during the offensive push. Potsdam finally got some offense going when junior guard Joe Estramonte (Greenwich, N.Y./Greenwich) knocked down a shot from behind the arch to bring the score to 41-14 with 7:50 to go.  The teams evened out the rest of the half with Brockport taking the 55-30 lead into the locker room.
 
Over the first four minutes of the second half, the Bears went six-for-six from the free throw line and at 15:48, Estramonte drained another three to cut the Golden Eagles' lead to 27. A layup from junior forward Tariq McIntyre (Brooklyn, N.Y./Thomas Jefferson) started a 20-7 run for the Bears. Six points from Estramonte and two threes each from Emmanuel and senior guard Rishawd Hendricks (Brooklyn, N.Y./Mount Zion Christian Academy) consecutively brought the score to 73-54 with just under nine minutes remaining. Brockport's offense ignited again to go on a 24-5 run that would close out the second half and seal the 97-59 victory for the Golden Eagles.
 
Hendricks closed out his career as a Bear with a 17-point performance, while Emmanuel recorded 10 points. Gallagher finished with 15 points and sophomore guard Aaron White (North Tonawanda, N.Y./Canisius) added 13 points.
 
Prior to the start of the game, five Bears' seniors including, Hendricks, Greg Torchon (Spring Valley, N.Y./St. Joseph Regional), Tom Graf (Elbridge, N.Y./Jordan-Elbridge), Zac Adams (Potsdam, N.Y./Potsdam) and Conor Engle (Auburn, N.Y./Auburn) were honored for their time and achievements with the SUNY Potsdam Men's Basketball Team.
 
The 2004-05 men's basketball team, who finished in the Elite 8 in the NCAA tournament, was honored at halftime of the game. The team is back for Alumni Day at Maxcy Hall. See photo below.

 

2005 SUNYAC Champion and NCAA Elite 8 Potsdam Bears

Members of the SUNYAC Championship and NCAA Elite 8 team were back in town to celebrate alumni weekend