POTSDAM, NY – The Plattsburgh State men's basketball team drops season opener against the Clarkson Golden Knights. Kevin Tabb (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Thomas Jefferson) was the team's leading scorer as he had 20 points on 8 of 17 shooting and added five rebounds. Jeremiah Smith (Brooklyn, N.Y. / East New York Family Academy) had 10 points while also contributing to rebounds with two.
For the Golden Knights, Matteo Sinon led the team in points with 22, which led all scorers, and had eight rebounds. Ryan Miles-Ferguson also added 15 points and six rebounds.
The Cardinals shot 40.0% from the floor on the night while Clarkson shot 39.7% from the floor. Both teams shot 25.0 from three with Clarkson only making 2 more so it wasn't a huge factor in the decision of the game. The teams were evenly matched on the boards with Clarkson edging out Plattsburgh with 4 more rebounds total and 1 more offensive rebound.
Each team played their first game of the year on Wednesday night, as Plattsburgh falls to 0-1 and Clarkson moves to 1-0.
The first half saw a 10-1 run by the Golden Knights midway through the half which prompted a timeout for the Cardinals. Out of the timeout the Cardinals would add more points on the board with a layup from Smith and a three from Ikechukwu Ezike (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Paul Robeson) as the Cardinals would cut the lead to six. Despite starting slow, the Cardinals made their way back into the game.
With less than 10 minutes to play in the half the Cardinals and Golden Knights would trade buckets making the score 8-14 with the Golden Knights leading still. The scoring was back and forth as Sinon made a layup and Smith followed it up with one of his own making it 12-17 with the Golden Knights still having the edge. The scoring efforts continued for both sides, but the Cardinals would draw closer to end the first half down 31-33.
Within one minute of the second half, the Cardinals would tie it 33-33 with a layup from Tim Thomas (Manhattan, N.Y. / Commonwealth Academy (Mass.)). That tie would not progress into a lead as Sinon knocks down a three to put the Golden Knights up by three. With over 16 minutes to play the Cardinals would once again tie the game this time with a three from Thomas. The Cardinals would take their first lead of the game on a free throw from Franklin Infante (East Rockaway, N.Y. / East Rockaway). The Cardinals would increase that lead to three, which would be their largest lead, with a layup from Tabb. The game was once again knotted even at 47-47 with over 13 minutes to play.
The second half continued to be a close battle but once the Golden Knights took the lead 51-49, they didn't relinquish it. The Cardinals would tie it 61-61 with over five minutes left to play but didn't take the led away from the Golden Knights. The Golden Knights went on a 7-0 run to pull away from the Cardinals with over two minutes left to play with made baskets rom Fin Cork, Miles-Ferguson, and Jack Dalgety. Under two minutes to play Smith cut the lead to four with a layup but four would be the closest the Cardinals come as they lose 69-75.
Plattsburgh State is back in action against the University of Vermont on Saturday Nov. 11th.