Jan 14, 2011
CORTLAND, N.Y. – Senior Chris Ruiz (Washington Heights/Bronx St. Agnes) scored 16 points, including 4-of-6 three-point shooting, as Plattsburgh defeated host Cortland, 69-57, in a SUNYAC matchup. Senior Steve Thomas (Plattsburgh/Ellenburg Northern Adirondack) added 13 points and four steals and senior Errol Daniyan (Coram/Longwood) registered 10 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots for the Cardinals (8-4, 4-1 SUNYAC).
Sophomore Jesse Winter (Rockville Centre/South Side) led Cortland (3-9, 0-5) with 16 points. He hit three of his four three-point attempts. Freshman John Connolly (Johnson City/Maine-Endwell) recorded 11 points and five rebounds and sophomore Jeremy Smith (Bronx/Riverdale Kingsbridge) scored 10 points. Sophomore Dan Sternkopf (Washingtonville) led the Red Dragons with seven rebounds and two blocks.
Plattsburgh shot 46 percent from the field, 50 percent (8-of-16) from behind the arc. Cortland hit 41 percent of its three-pointers (7-of-17), but finished at only 35 percent in total field goal percentage.
Plattsburgh, which never trailed, opened a 21-9 lead on a Ruiz three-pointer with 8:09 left in the first half. Cortland whittled its deficit to three points at 27-24 with 38 seconds left on a Winter free throw and trailed 30-26 at halftime.
The Red Dragons were down 33-31 after a Connolly three-point play two minutes into the second half, but Plattsburgh went on a 15-3 run and led 48-34 with 13:45 remaining. The Cardinals were still up 12 with 3:14 left before Cortland made a final surge. Baskets by Smith and Winter cut Plattsburgh's lead to eight with 1:39 left and, after a Plattsburgh missed free throw, Cortland had a chance to draw within six but missed a layup. The Cardinals responded by scoring the next seven points, four by Shavar Fields (Albany/Bishop Maginn), to put the game out of reach.
Cortland will host Potsdam on Saturday, Jan. 15, at 4 p.m.