Cortland Men Jump Out Early in 87-67 Win at Medaille

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BUFFALO, N.Y. – Cortland used a barrage of 3-pointers to take an early double-figure lead and the Red Dragons never looked back in an 87-67 non-league victory at Medaille College.

Sophomore James Morales (Mount Kisco/Fox Lane) and junior Michael Kelly (Monroe/Burke Catholic) led Cortland (8-1) with career-high scoring performances. Morales made 7-of-9 field goals, 6-of-8 from 3-point range, and finished with 20 points. Kelly hit 7-of-11 shots overall and ended with 18 points and three assists.

Also for the Red Dragons, senior Blair Estarfaa (Buffalo/Maryvale) recorded 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists, and senior Grequan Carter (Queens/Campus Magnet) ended with 12 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Mike Hallenbeck led Medaille (3-7) with 17 points, six rebounds and two blocks. Justice Fagan added 16 points, six rebounds and three assists, and Meghale Ford dished out five assists.

Cortland finished the game 15-of-44 (34 percent) from the 3-point arc, including 11-of-27 accuracy in the first half. The Red Dragons shot 48 percent overall from the floor compared to 43 percent shooting by the Mavericks.

Cortland opened the game on 23-4 run over the first 10 minutes. The Red Dragons made six 3-pointers in that stretch – three by Morales, two by Estarfaa and one by Carter. The lead eventually grew to 22 points at 41-19 on a Kelly trey with 2:58 left.

Medaille closed to within 43-27 at halftime and cut the Cortland lead to 11 twice in the second half, the latter at 46-35 with 17:51 remaining. The Red Dragons' lead remained in double figures, however, the rest of the way.

Cortland will return to SUNYAC action at New Paltz on Tuesday, January 5 at 4 p.m.