BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men's basketball team used a 59-39 margin in rebounds and a 42.5 percent (31-of-73) mark from the field to top Buffalo State, 87-80, in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) opener for both teams at the Buffalo State Sports Arena on Friday evening.
 
Buffalo State provided some drama down the stretch, as they countered an eight-point Cardinal lead with a 3-pointer by sophomore guard Dom Grayer with 55 seconds left. The Bengals came up with a defensive stop before junior guard Eric Mack (Roosevelt, N.Y./Baldwin) swatted away a layup with 20 seconds on the clock to keep it at a two-possession game.
 
Just four seconds later, Buffalo State was whistled for a foul in addition to a technical foul, and during that sequence, Mack sank a free throw to push the score to 86-80. Buffalo State grabbed the rebound on the final free throw, but junior guard Eli Bryant (Staten Island, N.Y./Michael J. Petrides School) prevented the Bengals from inching closer, as he posted a block and a defensive rebound on a 3-point attempt before icing the game by making 1-of-2 free throws.
 
Plattsburgh State rises to 4-1 overall (1-0 SUNYAC) with the win and closes out its western New York trip tomorrow with a 2 p.m. contest at Fredonia. Buffalo State falls to 4-1 overall (0-1 SUNYAC) with the loss and next hosts SUNY Potsdam tomorrow at 2 p.m.
 
The Cardinals wasted no time getting started, as they hopped out to a 19-8 lead in the first 6:36 of play following a Bryant 3-pointer. Buffalo State drew within five three times in the first half, and the Bengals took momentum into the locker rooms after senior guard Lovell Smith scored on an old-fashioned 3-point play to draw Buffalo State within six (49-43) with eight seconds to go in the period.
 
While senior guard Nico McLean hit two free throws to make it a four-point game in the second minute of the second half, the Cardinals ballooned the advantage to 10 after 3-pointers by sophomore forward Jonathan Patron (Huntington, N.Y./Harborfields) and Bryant. Buffalo State retaliated with a 16-6 tear, however, and a free throw by senior forward/center Jordan Chateau tied the score at 61-all.
 
Buffalo State stayed within striking distance until an 11-0 Plattsburgh State run opened up a 77-65 lead. The Bengals continued to chip away at the deficit until it was whittled down to five, setting the stage for the drama-filled final minute of the contest.
 
While the Bengals lost the battle on the boards, they did force the Cardinals into an uncharacteristic 19 turnovers and scored 20 points off them.
 
Bryant led the Cardinal offense with 19 points, which he achieved on 7-of-12 shooting from the floor and 4-of-6 shooting from long range. Patron notched yet another double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds, while Mack provided a big spark off the bench with a double-double of his own (18 points, 11 rebounds). The high-flying Mack also finished with four blocks.
 
For Buffalo State, junior guard Mike Henry netted a game-high 28 points and added 11 rebounds for the double-double, while Smith and McLean recorded 20 and 12 points, respectively. McLean kept the offense running with six assists, while Chateau tallied four blocks.