CORTLAND, N.Y. – Seniors Nicky Bonura (Mount Kisco/Fox Lane) and Justin Cooper (Pine Plains/Stissing Mountain) became the first Cortland men's basketball teams to each reach the 30-point mark in a game in at least 34 years, if not longer, as the Red Dragons defeated visiting Buffalo State, 90-72.

 

Bonura finished with 33 points, one shy of his career high. He was 12-of-22 from the field, including 6-of-15 from 3-point range. Cooper tied his career best with 31 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, handed out three assists and set a career high with five steals while playing all 40 minutes. He made 9-of-11 shots from the floor and was 12-of-13 from the foul line. His previous high of 31 points also came versus Buffalo State earlier this season on the road.

 

No Cortland set of teammates since at least the 1984-85 season have both scored 30 points in a game (records prior to that season are not easily accessible at this time).

Kenny Charles (Huntington) finished with 10 points and five rebounds and Zach Lydon (Elizaville/Stissing Mountain) totaled nine points and five rebounds for the Red Dragons (13-4, 7-3 SUNYAC). Ryan Schmadel (Oriskany) shared the team lead with Cooper with three assists.

 

Dom Grayer led Buffalo State (4-12, 2-8 SUNYAC) with 18 points, including four 3-pointers, and he added five rebounds. Kay Grant rang up 15 points and 10 rebounds, Zak Ciezki hit 4-of-5 treys in a 13-point effort, and Sheldon Adams added 11 points and three steals.

 

Bonura scored 16 points in the game's first seven minutes to help Cortland take a 21-7 lead. The Red Dragons led by at least nine the remainder of the half and were up 42-31 at halftime.

 

The lead was pushed to 19 points at 52-33 on a Charles 3-point play with 17:18 remaining. Buffalo State, however, went on a 26-6 run over the next seven and a half minutes and led 59-58 on an Adams 3-pointer with 9:55 left.

 

Charles gave Cortland the lead back on two foul shots at the 8:52 mark and Cooper's 3-point play less than 40 seconds later made it a four-point game. Buffalo State was still within three at 67-64 with 5:56 left before the Red Dragons mounted a 12-0 run to put the game away. Cooper started the run with a jumper, followed by a Bonura 3-pointer and three Bonura free throws after he was fouled attempting another trey. A Cooper dunk with 4:16 left and his jumper at the 3:41 mark ended the streak.

 

The lead remained at least nine after that. Cooper went 10-for-10 from the foul line over the final 2:18 to push him over the 30-point mark.

 

Cortland shot 47 percent from the field, 12-of-35 (34 percent) from 3-point range, and was 20-of-23 (87 percent) from the foul line. Buffalo State finished at 42 percent overall and 41 percent (13-of-32) from the arc, but was only 3-of-7 from the charity stripe.

 

Cortland will host Fredonia Saturday at 4 p.m.