PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The No. 22 ranked Plattsburgh State men's basketball team welcomed in SUNY Cortland to Memorial Hall Friday night for a battle between the SUNYAC's top two teams in the standings. All told, the Red Dragons were no match for the high flying Cardinals, as the hosts shot a season-best 58.7- percent (37-for-63) en route to a 99-78 victory.
 
The opening three minutes of the contest painted the picture for how this one would go for both teams, as Plattsburgh State made four of its first five baskets while SUNY Cortland was held off the scoreboard until 3:15 in.
 
With the Cardinals holding an 8-0 advantage, the Red Dragons got their first points off of a T.J. Hefele triple. The senior guard was a bright spot for the visitors, as he netted 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including 5-of-10 from distance.
 
Despite senior standout Kyle Richardson getting into foul trouble early in the first half, Plattsburgh State never let up, as it shot 57.1-percent (20-for-35) in the first and was a perfect 5-of-5 from the charity stripe.
 
Freshman Jonathan Patron proved to be a dominant force in the paint once again, as the Huntington, N.Y., product totaled 12 points at halftime on 6-of-8 shooting.
 
Final year man Edward Correa and sophomore Eli Bryant helped extend the Cardinals' lead in the opening stanza, as they each connected on a pair of long range baskets during a 16-7 run to make it 26-12 prior to the midway point of the first.
 
Leading by double-digits for most of the final 10 minutes of the frame, SUNY Cortland would bounce back late thanks to eight straight Red Dragon points from Hefele.
 
Bryant continued his effective shooting with little time showing on the clock, as the Staten Island, N.Y., native drained a three with a mere three ticks left on the clock. Plattsburgh State headed into halftime with a 49-38 lead.
 
The Cardinals turned up the heat even more in the second, hitting on 17 of their 28 shots (60.7-percent). The half was filled with many exciting moments that sent the near capacity Memorial Hall crowd into awe.
 
Senior Xavier Thomas stole the show with two monster dunks; one on a tomahawk where he took off just inside the free throw line, and the other coming on a beautiful alley-oop feed from Correa.
 
Richardson bounced back from his quiet first half by registering 12 points in the second, capped off by a fast break slam.
 
Plattsburgh State upped its lead to 20 points just inside the halfway point. The Red Dragons would get into foul trouble early, leading to 18 free throw attempts in the frame.
 
Patron was the lead man for the Cardinals, as he posted his fourth double-double of the season with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Plattsburgh State dished out a season-best 23 assists in the contest, with sophomore Zack Coleman registering a game-high five. Bryant, Correa, Richardson, and Thomas would all finish in double figures in points.
 
The Cardinals collect their sixth straight win and 14^th in their last 15 games to improve to 18-3 on the year and 13-1 in conference. With a victory on Saturday, Plattsburgh State would lock up the No. 1 seed in the SUNYAC playoffs for the second-straight season.
 
Saturday afternoon will have several storylines hanging in the balance, as the Cardinals are set to contend with the same Oswego State Lakers that shattered their dreams of a SUNYAC championship last season at Memorial Hall. The Cardinals will also pay tribute to their three seniors, as Edward Correa, Kyle Richardson, and Xavier Thomas will all be honored prior to the 4 p.m. tip-off.