Jan 10, 2020
CORTLAND, N.Y. – Austin Grunder (Trumansburg/Charles O. Dickerson) recorded 35 points, 16 rebounds, three assists and three steals, and was one of three Cortland players to score at least 20 points, as the Red Dragons defeated visiting Buffalo State, 107-80, in SUNYAC action.
Cortland (8-2, 2-1 SUNYAC) won its sixth straight game and set a school record with its third straight 100-point game. The previous mark of two consecutive 100-point games occurred during the 1963-64 season.
Grunder made 13-of-18 shots from the field, including 4-of-6 3-pointers. He's the first Cortland player to reach the 35-point mark in a game since Kevin McMahon scored 39 points in an overtime home loss to Oswego on Feb. 22, 2014. Coincidentally, McMahon also scored 35 points in a home win versus Buffalo State that season exactly six years prior to Grunder's performance.
Ryan Schmadel (Oriskany) tied his career high with 20 points and also totaled six rebounds, three assists and three steals. He was 6-of-13 from 3-point range, matching his career best for made 3-pointers that he set last weekend versus Cabrini. Ben Walters (Lockport/Starpoint) made a career-high five 3-pointers and finished with 21 points. He went 8-for-11 from the floor. Brendan Fitzpatrick (Plainview/Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK) added 10 points, five assists and five rebounds.
Cortland connected on 18-of-37 shots from the 3-point arc (49 percent) for its third straight game with at least 16 made treys. The Red Dragons shot 58 percent overall from the floor.
Buffalo State (3-3, 1-1 SUNYAC) had five double-figure scorers in the game. Jordan Christopher and Kay Grant each scored 14 points, Sheldon Adams tallied 13 points, Aaron Davis scored 12 and Argjend Imeri added 11. Christopher led the Bengals with 11 rebounds and Adams had eight boards, while Davis handed out five assists. Buffalo State shot 42 percent from the floor overall and 27 percent (8-for-30) from 3-point range.
Cortland led 52-42 at halftime, but Buffalo State opened the second half on a 7-2 run to close within five. The Red Dragons, however, used 3-pointer by Grunder and Schmadel, two Grunder free throws, and another Grunder triple, to take a 65-49 lead with 16:14 remaining. Cortland's lead remained in double figures the rest of the way.
Cortland will host Fredonia Saturday at 4 p.m.