In a battle between two of the top teams in the SUNYAC today, it was SUNY Oneonta that fell to Brockport in a heartbreaker 89-86.  A last second jumper by graduate student Frankie Kelly (Brewster/Kennedy Catholic) from well behind the three-point line rimmed out twice as time expired.  Entering the game, the Red Dragons were sitting in third place just one game behind the Golden Eagles, as both teams are vying for a potential bye in the first round of the SUNYAC tournament that goes to the first and second place teams at the end of the regular season, which is next weekend.
 
Trailing 84-78 with 1:16 left in the game, Oneonta (14-9, 11-5 SUNYAC) battled back to knot the score at 84 apiece with 22 seconds to go.  After four straight free throws by senior Lawrence Coleman (Croton on the Hudson/Hendrick Hudson), freshman Carson Jacobs (Buchanan/Hendrick Hudson) made a layup to tie the game.  Coleman led all scorers in the contest with 30 points to go with a game high 13 rebounds.  Coleman was a perfect 12-of-12 from the line.
 
On Brockport's next possession, senior Hamed Shamseldin drove across the lane and made a layup in traffic to put Brockport (18-5, 13-3 SUNYAC) back up by a pair.  Shamseldin scored 20 points today and was one of three Golden Eagles to reach that mark in the game.
 
Oneonta then committed a foul with 14 seconds to go and Matthew Smith made only 1-of-2 free throws.
 
On Oneonta's next possession, freshman Harrison Deegan (Putnam Valley/Putnam Valley) drove the lane and made a layup to pull the Red Dragons to within one point with four seconds remaining.  Oneonta fouled Shamseldin immediately on the inbounds where he then converted the free throws on the other end.
 
Oneonta got the ball to half court on a deflection out of bounds by Brockport.  With no timeouts, the Red Dragons inbounded where Kelly got his shot off, which rebounded off the backboard and the rim twice before falling off the front of the rim to the floor as the final buzzer sounded.
 
"This one hurts, but I am very proud of our team's effort in the second half," stated Head Coach Cameron Conover.  "We fought until the end.  I look forward to practice this week where I know our guys will be ready to work."
 
Trailing 37-31 at halftime after shooting only 35 percent from the floor, Oneonta opened the second half with a 13-5 spurt that gave them the lead.  Junior Dwayne Freeman (Schenectady/Notre-Dame Bishop Gibbons) buried a pair from behind the arc to fuel the run.
 
With the score tied at 51 apiece with 13:16 remaining in the game, Brockport seized the momentum steadily building a lead to 10 points over the next ten minutes holding an 83-73 advantage at the 3:10 mark after a basket by Justin Summers.
 
A three-pointer by freshman Kevin Mackin (Nanuet/Nanuet) jump-started an 11-1 run for the Red Dragons that evened the game at 84 apiece setting up the late game drama.
 
Despite holding a 45-32 rebound advantage in the contest, Oneonta turned the ball over 20 times leading to 26 points for Brockport, who also held a 38-15 scoring advantage from the bench.
 
Senior Mikey McElroy (Saratoga Springs/Saratoga Springs) was the only other player in double figures for Oneonta today with 18 points.
 
Joining Shamseldin with 20-point games was Clifton Lyerly and Devonn Gavin who each scored 22 points.  Summers added 12 points for the Golden Eagles.
 
Oneonta will finish its regular season at home next weekend with games against Potsdam and Plattsburgh.  Oneonta has already clinched a conference tournament spot, so next weekend they will be playing for a home game in the first round, which will be Tuesday, Feb. 21.