PLATTSBURGH, N.Y.--Carl Munnerlyn came off the bench to pace four Cardinals in double digits with a game-high 23 points as the Plattsburgh State men's basketball team knocked off visiting Buffalo State, 80-76, at Memorial Hall on Saturday. The Cardinals improve to 10-5 overall, including 6-2 in the State University of New York Athletic Conference. The Bengals--the SUNYAC's highest-scoring offense in the mid 80's before the weekend--fall to 9-5 and 4-4 in the conference.

Munnerlyn, who played only 29 minutes, converted all 10 of his free throw attempts, including six in the final 1 minute and 22 seconds to seal the win. In fact, Plattsburgh finished 22-of-28 from the charity stripe for 78.6 percent.

Justin Mitchell led Buffalo State with a double-double of 22 points and 16 rebounds, and Jake Simmons also netted 22 points. Chris Cartwright contributed seven assists and three steals.

Chris Ruiz scored 13 points, Shavar Fields had a career-high 12 and Josh Bruno, 10, to help the Cardinals offense. Errol Daniyan, Ketema Brooks and John Perez all had six rebounds.

Plattsburgh shot well from the field in the early going and took a 43-30 advantage in the locker room.

In the second half, Buffalo State maintained its composure and eventually took a 71-70 lead on a lay-in by Mitchell with 2:01 left. But on Plattsburgh's ensuing possession, Steve Thomas made two free throws after being fouled by Simmons to put the Cardinals back in front for good. Plattsburgh went 15-for-18 at the line in the second stanza. 

Newspaper Box Score
Buffalo State vs Plattsburgh State
01/22/11 4 p.m. at Plattsburgh, N.Y.; Memorial Hall
At Plattsburgh, N.Y.; Memorial Hall
PLATTSBURGH STATE 80, BUFFALO STATE 76
BUFFALO STATE (9-5, 4-4 SUNYAC)
MITCHELL, Justin 8-15 6-6 22; SIMMONS, Jake 9-23 2-4 22; CARR, Glenroy 4-10
7-9 15; McLEAN, Nico 2-5 2-2 6; GIBSON, Joel 1-3 1-2 3; SIMMONS, Norman 1-5
0-0 2; CARTWRIGHT, Chris 0-5 2-2 2; RUNGE, Seth 1-1 0-0 2; HAMER, Anthony
1-6 0-0 2; CASTREN, Chris 0-0 0-0 0; NAGAYA, Ahmed 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-74
20-25 76.
PLATTSBURGH STATE (10-5,6-2 SUNYAC)
MUNNERLYN, Carl 5-12 10-10 23; RUIZ, Chris 4-14 4-4 13; FIELDS, Shavar 5-6
2-3 12; BRUNO, Josh 4-4 0-0 10; THOMAS, Steve 3-7 2-2 8; BROOKS, Ketema 2-4
0-3 4; PEREZ, John 1-5 2-4 4; WILLIAMS, Reggie 1-3 2-2 4; DANIYAN, Errol 1-2
0-0 2; PONESSE, R.J. 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-57 22-28 80.
Buffalo State.................   30   46  -   76
Plattsburgh State.............   43   37  -   80
3-point goals--Buffalo State 2-16 (SIMMONS, Jake 2-10; SIMMONS, Norman 0-1;
CARTWRIGHT, Chris 0-3; HAMER, Anthony 0-2), Plattsburgh State 6-17
(MUNNERLYN, Carl 3-9; BRUNO, Josh 2-2; RUIZ, Chris 1-4; THOMAS, Steve 0-2).
Fouled out--Buffalo State-HAMER, Anthony, Plattsburgh State-None.
Rebounds--Buffalo State 44 (MITCHELL, Justin 16), Plattsburgh State 40
(DANIYAN, Errol 6; BROOKS, Ketema 6; PEREZ, John 6). Assists--Buffalo State
15 (CARTWRIGHT, Chris 7), Plattsburgh State 12 (BROOKS, Ketema 4). Total
fouls--Buffalo State 26, Plattsburgh State 24. Technical fouls--Buffalo
State-SIMMONS, Norman, Plattsburgh State-None. A-390
State University of New York Athletic Conference game.