CORTLAND, N.Y. – Cortland's attempt to rally from an eight-point deficit in the final three minutes came up just short as the Red Dragons fell to visiting Buffalo State, 61-59, in the SUNYAC men's basketball quarterfinals at Corey Gymnasium.

Buffalo State (17-8), the fifth seed in the six-team tournament, will play at top-seeded Oswego in the semifinals Friday at 7:30 p.m. The fourth-seeded Red Dragons drop to 17-9 and may possibly play in the ECAC Division III tournament next week.

Lovell Smith led the Bengals with 18 points on 9-of-15 shooting. He also registered nine rebounds and three assists. Mike Henry finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds and Jordan Chateau added eight rebounds.

Justin Cooper (Pine Plains/Stissing Mountain) led Cortland with 16 points and eight rebounds. Justin Prendergast (Monroe/Monroe-Woodbury) hit 5-of-8 shots and finished with 13 points and five boards. Michael Kelly (Monroe/Burke Catholic) chipped in with 12 points, including 3-of-5 shooting from 3-point range to account for three of Cortland's four treys on the night, and James Morales (Mount Kisco/Fox Lane) posted 11 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals.

Cortland led 28-25 at halftime, with each team struggling offensively in the period. Cortland shot 29 percent from the field in the half (2-of-10 from 3-point range), and the Bengals shot 31 percent overall in the half (1-of-11 from the 3-point arc).

Buffalo State opened up an 8-point lead, however, six minutes into the second half. The margin fluctuated from three to six points over the next 11 minutes, and the Bengals once again took an eight-point lead at 60-52 on a Smith tip-in with 3:19 remaining.

Cortland got a Morales steal and layup with 2:39 left to close within six, and Cooper's layup at the 1:46 mark cut the guests' lead to four. The Red Dragons missed a shot with 1:04 left, but Buffalo State turned the ball over with 55 seconds left. Cortland, however, threw the ball away on an entry pass with 46 seconds left.

Henry hit one of two free throws with 45 seconds remaining to put the Bengals up five, but Kelly drained a deep 3-pointer from the right wing with 34 seconds left and Cortland trailed 61-59. The Red Dragons fouled to put the Bengals on the line with 27 seconds left and a missed front end of a 1-and-1 gave the ball back to Cortland.

Cortland called timeout with 14 seconds left. The Red Dragons had a chance to take the lead, but a deep Morales 3-pointer hit off the rim with four seconds remaining. The teams fought for the loose ball on the floor, with Henry holding the ball as the buzzer sounded.

Cortland shot 48 percent from the field in the second half and 37 percent for the game, but only 4-of-18 from the 3-point line. Buffalo State shot 42 percent in the second half and 37 percent for the contest, but only 5-of-24 from deep.