Jan 15, 2019
NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Cortland made a school-record 21 shots from 3-point range, including 15 in the opening half on the way to a 30-point halftime lead, and the Red Dragons cruised to an 89-67 victory at New Paltz in SUNYAC men's basketball action.
Cortland's previous school record for 3-pointers in a game was 18 on four occasions, including earlier this season at Old Westbury.
Nicky Bonura (Mount Kisco/Fox Lane) matched his career high with nine 3-pointers. He finished 9-of-12 from the arc, with six of those makes coming on seven attempts in the first half. Ryan Schmadel (Oriskany) finished 4-of-6 from long distance and Ben Walters (Lockport/Starpoint) was 2-for-5, while six other Red Dragons hit one 3-pointer. Cortland (11-3, 5-2 SUNYAC) finished the game 21-of-37 (57 percent) from the 3-point line, 15-of-23 (65 percent) in the first half, and was just 8-of-23 from 2-point territory.
Bonura finished with 27 points and six rebounds, Justin Cooper (Pine Plains/Stissing Mountain) had 15 points, nine rebounds and six assists, and Schmadel ended with 14 points and five rebounds. William Lee Moore (Rochester/Greece Olympia) added seven points and Zach Lydon (Elizaville/Stissing Mountain) blocked three shots and dished out a career-high four assists.
Nick Paquette paced New Paltz (7-7, 2-5 SUNYAC) with 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the 3-point arc. Scott Reisert scored 10 points and Isaiah Bien-Aise hauled in 10 rebounds. Cory Garcia led the Hawks with five assists.
Cortland turned a 16-14 lead with just under 14 minutes left in the first half into 51-21 lead at intermission. Eleven of the Red Dragons' 12 baskets during that 35-7 run came from 3-point distance, including five by Bonura and two by Schamdel. New Paltz got as close as 18 points three times in the second half, all with less than six minutes remaining.
Cortland will host Potsdam Friday at 7:30 p.m. in a SUNYAC matchup.