For Immediate Release: October 23, 2002

Contact: Cathy Wenzka, SUNYAC Publicist

BROCKPORT PICKED TO FINISH FIRST IN
SUNYAC MEN’S BASKETBALL

The Golden Eagles look to capture their third consecutive title

FREDONIA, NY – The Brockport Golden Eagles are again picked to repeat as champions in the 2002-03 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) regular season, according to a vote by the conference coaches. Coaches were not allowed to rank their own teams on their preseason ballots.

Brockport received a unanimous vote as they look to defend their 2002 SUNYAC championship. The team finished the regular season with a 14-2 conference record and made it to the NCAA Sectional Finals where they lost to the University of Rochester. The Golden Eagles are also ranked tenth in the DIII News Preseason Top 25 basketball ranking, announced last week.

Oswego received one first-place vote and finished second in this year’s poll. The Lakers look to follow-up their 2001-02 season, in which they reached the SUNYAC finals, with another successful season. Voted to finish only ninth in last year’s poll, the Lakers finished the regular season in sixth place with a conference record of 9-7, but played strong in the post-season, defeating Geneseo in the first round of the ECAC tournament before losing to Clarkson in the semifinals.

Buffalo State has been picked to finish third with 81 points. The Bengals finished the 2001-02 season with a conference record of 11-5, earning them the second seed in the tournament. Buffalo State lost in the SUNYAC quarterfinals to Cortland 49-48.

2002-03 SUNYAC Coaches’ Preseason Poll

1. Brockport (10) 100

2. Oswego (1) 90

3. Buffalo State 81

4. Geneseo 69

5. Cortland 53

6. Potsdam 48

7. Plattsburgh 46

8. Oneonta 37

Fredonia 37

10. SUNYIT 30

11. New Paltz 14

(First-place votes in parentheses)