Dec 15, 2018
OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. – Nicky Bonura (Mount Kisco/Fox Lane) hit nine of Cortland's school record-tying 18 3-pointers and finished with a career-high 34 points as the Red Dragons pulled away in the second half for a 96-76 non-league win at SUNY Old Westbury.
Bonura matched his career high with the nine treys, which are one short of the school single-game record of 10 set by Dave Maggiacomo at Fredonia in January 2007. Bonura also made nine 3-pointers at Brockport last season and Jeremy Smith hit nine treys versus Geneseo in the 2012 SUNYAC tournament.
As a team, Cortland (6-2) finished 18-of-32 (56 percent) from behind the arc, including 12-of-18 in the second half. The 18 triples match the mark set last season at Brockport, two years ago at Plattsburgh, and three seasons ago versus Oswego in the SUNYAC finals at Plattsburgh.
Bonura finished 9-of-14 from long distance and 11-of-19 overall from the field as well as 3-for-3 from the foul line. Justin Cooper (Pine Plains/Stissing Mountain) scored 25 points on 9-of-12 accuracy from the floor along with six free throws in as many attempts. He also pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds and handed out a team-high five assists. Bonura (22.9 points/game) and Cooper (20.6 points/game) are one of just three sets of teammates nationally in Division III to each currently average more than 20 points per game.
Ryan Schmadel (Oriskany) connected on 4-of-6 shots from the arc and finished with 12 points, three assists, three rebounds and a career-high tying three blocks. Kenny Charles (Huntington) added nine points, three assists and a career-high nine rebounds.
Old Westbury was led by Mike Snowden with 23 points on 10-of-17 shooting and Justin Alleyne-Washington with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Pedro Marquez scored 14 points and led the Panthers (3-4) with six assists.
Neither team led by more than four points in the first half. Bonura hit 5-of-6 3-pointers in the period, the last coming just before the buzzer to give Cortland a 38-37 lead. It was still just a two-point lead for Cortland at 50-48 after a dunk by the host's Stanley Baker with 16:34 left. At that point, the Red Dragons went on an 18-3 run over the next 3:38 to take a 68-51 lead. Schmadel made 3-pointers on three straight trips down the floor to finish that stretch.
Old Westbury got back within 11 before Charles and Schmadel nailed treys to re-establish a 17-point margin with 10:21 left. Another push back to 11 points down by the Panthers was answered again by Cortland, this time on two Cooper layups and a Bonura layup, and the Red Dragons were up 80-63 with 7:37 left. Cortland's lead remained at least 15 points after that. Jake DiSanto (Rochester/Victor) hit Cortland's record-tying 18th 3-pointer with a minute remaining.
The Red Dragons return to action at St. John Fisher's Woodcliff Hotel and Spa Tournament Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 29-30. Cortland will open versus Keystone on the 29th at 6 p.m. and will face either Alfred State or the host Cardinals on the 30th at 1 p.m. (consolation) or 3 p.m. (championship).