PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men's basketball team rolls over Buffalo State for a 78-52 win. The Cardinals had a strong first half as they outscored the Bengals 48-28. The Cardinals were led offensively by Kevin Tabb (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Thomas Jefferson) who had 25 points and four rebounds.

Ikechukwu Ezike (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Paul Robeson) contributed to the offensive effort as he had a Plattsburgh State career high 15 points and eight rebounds. Franklin Infante (East Rockaway, N.Y. East Rockaway) and Tim Thomas (Manhattan, N.Y. / Commonwealth Academy Mass.)) both helped in the winning effort as Infante had 13 points, seven rebounds, and three assists and Thomas had a Plattsburgh State career high 12 points and six rebounds. Sasha Vidrini (Trieste, Italy / Liceo Rogazionisti) added seven points and Jeremiah Smith (Brooklyn, N.Y. / East New York Family Academy) six rebounds as they both came off the bench.

For the Bengals, Nigel Burch led the way with 19 points and 11 rebounds to collect a double-double. Matt Parkinson also contributed eight points and Maley McCurty nine rebounds.

The Cardinals were solid from the field as they shot 40.0% compared to the Bengals 24.2%. The Cardinal bench contributed as they outscored the Bengals 24-13. The Cardinals won the turnover battle 14-21 and got 18 points off turnovers while the Bengals only got 10.  The rebounding battle was close as the Cardinals had a slight 54-50 edge.

Plattsburgh moves to 5-6 (2-2 SUNYAC) and will be back in action Tuesday Jan. 9 at 7:30 pm as they travel to Potsdam. Buffalo State falls to 0-10 (0-3 SUNYAC) and will be back in action Tuesday Jan. 9 as well as they go on the road to face Brockport at 6 pm.

The Cardinals started off slow the first 10 minutes of the half but picked it up as they took a 20 point lead into halftime. Tabb started the game off with a jumper followed by two straight jumpers from Burch that made the score 4-2 Bengals. The Cardinals tied the game momentarily before McCurty made two free throws that gave the Bengal's back the lead. That lead was the last the Bengal's had the rest of the game as the Cardinals took the lead on a Thomas three that made the score 7-6 and never gave it back. The Cardinals stretched their lead to 10 on a Tabb jumper with less than seven minutes in the half that made the score 30-20. The Cardinals went on a 7-0 run from the 3:46 mark until the 2:28 mark that made the score 41-23 Cardinals. Parkinson ended the run as he scored five straight points before Smith made a jumper. The Cardinals closed the half on an 8-0 run that started at the 1:50 mark and lasted til the end of the half and made the score 48-28 Cardinals.

Bryce Williams opened the second half with a three followed by a three from Ezike that made the score 51-31 Cardinals. It was Ezike again as he made a jumper that stretched the Cardinal lead to 23 points. The Cardinals went on an 18-0 run from the 16:15 mark until the 12:04 mark and made the score 72-35 and gave them their largest lead of the game which was 37. The Bengal's responded with a 7-0 run from the 11:56 mark until the 9:48 mark that made the score 72-42 Cardinals. The Bengals outscored the Cardinals the rest of the half 10-6 to no avail as the Cardinals won 78-52.