MIAMI – Freshman Jonathan Patron and senior Kyle Richardson poured in 22 and 21 points, respectively to help lead the Plattsburgh State men's basketball team to an 81-67 win over Stevenson University on Saturday afternoon at the HoopMIA D3 Holiday Shootout inside Florida Christian School.
 
Patron connected on nine of his 15 field goal attempts, including two three-pointers, en route to his game-high mark. The first-year player out of Huntington, N.Y., is now the second-leading scorer for Plattsburgh State, while almost exclusively coming off the bench.
 
An 8-0 run by Plattsburgh State fueled by triples from Richardson and Patron gave the Cardinals an 18-10 advantage just prior to the midway point of the first. The mustangs would battle back and keep things close, ending the half on a 5-0 run and cutting the lead to 35-33. Plattsburgh State never trailed in the opening stanza.
 
The teams would trade baskets up to the halfway mark of the second. A Richardson three-pointer and Zack Coleman three-point play off a foul during a layup would power the Cardinals to an 11-2 run, as they seized control of the game.
 
Plattsburgh State shot 56-percent from the field in the second half, and had its best free-throw shooting performance of the season so far, going 19-for-24 (79.2-percent) from the charity stripe.
 
Richardson collected his fourth double-double of the season, with 21 points and 15 rebounds.
 
Senior Xavier Thomas scored 14 points while adding five rebounds and four assists.
 
The Mustangs had four players score in double-figures, but were held to just 34.7-percent shooting in the game. Erik Fisher led Stevenson with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Plattsburgh State will wrap up its play in the HoopMIA D3 Holiday Shootout on Sunday afternoon by facing UMass Dartmouth. Tip is scheduled for 3 p.m.