PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Following a 59-point second half in Friday night's win over Oneonta, the No. 24 ranked Plattsburgh State men's basketball team went on a 56-point scoring barrage in the first half Saturday afternoon against SUNY New Paltz, as it defeated the Hawks in wire-to-wire fashion, 102-64 inside Memorial Hall.
 
From start to finish, Edward Correa had the touch from long range, as he went 6-of-8 from downtown to lead the Cardinals (17-3, 12-1 SUNYAC) with 24 points.
 
The senior from the Bronx, N.Y., connected on his first triple attempt of the game to give Plattsburgh State a 3-0 lead. The Cardinals began the contest marking four out of their first five shots, which included two three-pointers from Correa.
 
Having not gotten on the board for the first 2:43, the Hawks all of a sudden dialed it up from distance, scoring their first 12 points all by way of three-pointers.
 
Leading 23-12 with 12:36 in the opening stanza, Plattsburgh State seemingly pulled away from New Paltz by going on a 17-2 run, increasing its lead to 40-14 just under the nine minute mark.
 
The Cardinals shot 59.4-percent (19-of-32) in the first half and led the Hawks 56-32 at the break. Plattsburgh State dominated the physical battle, getting to the free throw line 18 times in the first and making 14 of its attempts.
 
Correa began the second half exactly how he started the first by sinking a trey. New Paltz would get as close as 21 points away after back-to-back threes from Nick Paquette and R.J. Rosa in the opening two minutes of the second.
 
Plattsburgh State built its lead to 30 points after a layup from Xavier Thomas. The senior was a beast on the glass, finishing with a game-high 12 rebounds while also making a highlight of a play with a filthy one-handed put back slam after a missed Correa jumper.
 
Seeing his most action of the season thus far, freshman Isaiah Hill scored six points in the second half, making both of his field goal attempts and coming up with a memorable rejection of an Andrew Seniuk jumper.
 
The Cardinals shot 57.1-percent (36-of-63) for the game, including 8-of-13 (61.5-percent) from downtown. Plattsburgh State out-rebounded New Paltz 52-34, and had 22 of its points come from the charity stripe.
 
Senior Kyle Richardson posted 15 points and six rebounds, while freshman Jonathan Patron added 13 points and seven boards.
 
At 12-1 in conference play with two weeks left in the regular season, Plattsburgh State currently holds a 3 ½ game lead over second-place Geneseo in the standings.
 
The Cardinals will continue their homestand next weekend by welcoming in SUNY Cortland and Oswego State to Memorial Hall. Friday night's matchup with the 14-6 Red Dragons is set for a 7:30 p.m. tip.