BUFFALO, N.Y. – Austin Grunder (Trumansburg/Charles O. Dickerson) became Cortland's career rebounding leader during a 27-point, 17-rebound effort as the Red Dragons defeated host Buffalo State, 83-74, in SUNYAC men's basketball action. 
 
With the win, Cortland (17-7, 12-5 SUNYAC) has guaranteed itself a home game next Tuesday night in the first round of the six-team SUNYAC tournament. The Red Dragons are currently tied for third with Oneonta in the league standings and will finish either third or fourth depending on the outcome of each team's regular-season finale Saturday. Cortland plays at Geneseo at 5 p.m. and Oneonta is at Plattsburgh at 4 p.m. 
 
Grunder improved his career total to 924 rebounds, surpassing the previous school record of 913 set by Jon DeHay from 1997-2002. Grunder also extended his career-record scoring total to 1,630 points in 75 games while posting his 16th double-double of the season. He shot 10-of-18 from the field and 7-of-12 from the foul line. 
 
Danny Linehan (Blauvelt/Tappan Zee) made three 3-pointers and finished with 15 points. Kareem Lubin (Monroe/Washingtonville) scored 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting. He made both of his 3-pointers and grabbed four rebounds. Cam Williams (Rome/Rome Free Academy) ended with eight points and six rebounds. 
 
Christian Smallhorne led Buffalo State (1-22, 0-17 SUNYAC) with 32 points. He hit 11-of-15 shots overall, including 7-of-8 from the 3-point arc. Kevin Carpenter scored 10 points and Tyron Smith totaled nine points, 14 rebounds and four assists. 
 
The first half featured eight ties, the last at 24-24 with 6:19 left, before Cortland finished the half on a 19-10 run to take a 43-34 lead at the break. The Red Dragons took their largest lead at 54-38 on a Linehan jumper with 13:54 remaining. 
 
Buffalo State, however, rallied all the way back to within a point over the next eight minutes. Smallhorne hit a 3-pointer with 6:03 left to cut Cortland's lead to six, nailed another trey at the 5:39 mark to make it a 73-69 game, and then recorded a steal and another 3-pointer with 5:22 left to reduce Cortland's lead to 73-72. Cortland missed three shots on its next possession but grabbed three offensive rebounds, eventually leading to a Linehan 3-pointer with 4:41 left to give the Red Dragons a 76-72 lead. Isaiah Preston (Penfield) hit two free throws less than a minute later to extend the lead to six, and Cortland remained ahead by at least five from that point.