MIAMI – Coming off of its worst performance of the season last weekend at Middlebury, the Plattsburgh State men's basketball team was looking to bounce back in South Florida at the HoopMIA D3 Holiday Shootout. After doing just that on Saturday with a convincing win over Stevenson, the Cardinals were once again led by the duo of Kyle Richardson and Jonathan Patron on Sunday afternoon in a shootout against UMass Dartmouth, as Plattsburgh State held on for a 99-95 victory.
 
Richardson dominated the first half, scoring 22 points on 82-percent (9-for-11) shooting. The Baldwin, N.Y., native finished the game with 26 points and 10 rebounds; his fifth double-double of the year.
 
While Richardson was held in check in the second, the freshman Patron took over, scoring 16 of his team-high 27 points in the half. The Huntington, N.Y., product's performance was culminated by him hitting a clutch pair of free throws with two seconds left, making it a two-possession game.
 
The Cardinals led by as many as 14 points in the first half, and led 51-42 at the break. Plattsburgh State shot 58.8-percent (20-for-34), including 4-of-7 from three-point range.
 
Not missing a beat, the Cardinals upped their lead to 13 just over three minutes into the second after Zack Coleman was fouled on a three-point attempt and hit all three free throws.
 
Senior Edward Correa caught fire in the middle of the final half, making three of his five triples in a span of just under two minutes.
 
Plattsburgh State's lead grew to 16 after an Xavier Thomas layup with nine and a half minutes left in the second, but the Corsairs stormed back to set up an exciting finish.
 
UMass Dartmouth's leading scorer, Jordan Rezendes, scored 23 of his game-high 32 points in the second half, including 15 in the game's final nine minutes.
 
The Corsairs put together a 12-2 run with five minutes left in the game, knotting things up at 86 apiece.
 
With just under three minutes remaining and the game now tied at 89, Patron showed he's got the touch from downtown as well, connecting on a three to re-give the Cardinals the lead.
 
After another clutch triple, this time from Eli Bryant, the Corsairs' Jon Robinson scored on a layup, cutting the Plattsburgh State lead to two with a minute and a half remaining.
 
Patron didn't cave into the pressure, scoring the final four points for the Cardinals, all on free throws.
 
UMass Dartmouth had a chance prior to the final two Patron free throws, but Rezendes' three-point attempt rattled in and out. Richardson grabbed the rebound, securing the double-double.
 
All in all, five Cardinals scored in double-figures. Plattsburgh State moves to 6-2 on the year, while UMass Dartmouth falls even to 5-5.
 
Following a break for Christmas and New Years, the Cardinals will return to Memorial Hall on Monday, January 4, to play their final non-conference game of the regular season. Plattsburgh State will matchup against Trinity College, a team that made it to the elite eight in last year's NCAA Division III Tournament. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.