Potsdam, NY – Junior Matteo Sinon recorded a career-high 22 points on 8-for-14 shooting to help lead the Clarkson University Men's Basketball team to a season-opening 75-69 victory over Plattsburgh State Wednesday night at Alumni Gymnasium.

The Golden Knights will have a day of recovery before participating in the Hilbert Tournament on Friday and Saturday.

Neither team could hit a shot in the opening minutes, as more than three minutes ticked off the clock before Jack Dalgety finally broke the seal on the basket at 16:48 with a layup for the Knights. That began a small run for Clarkson that put the Green and Gold up by nine (10-1), capped by a 3-pointer from Ayden Kocak. Plattsburgh scored its first basket after more than eight minutes were off the clock, but once that went through the Cardinals were ready to go. In less than six minutes, the Cardinals were within two (19-17) after a 3-pointer from Matt Kone-Bradshaw with just under six minutes remaining. The Knights responded with a run of their own to return the margin to seven, but the Cardinals rallied again, tying the game at 31-31 in the last minute. Only a buzzer-beating bank shot from Matteo Sinon kept Clarkson in the lead at the break.

The second half was tight throughout, as the Cardinals actually took the lead early on after intermission. A layup from Willard Anderson, Jr. at 14:49 gave Plattsburgh a two-point lead, but it would be the Cardinals last. Clarkson tied the game a few times in the next minutes, and a three-point play from Finn Cork gave the Knights the lead for good. Plattsburgh did tie the game briefly with 5:35 to go, only to see Clarkson rattle off seven straight points, including a 3-pointer by Jack Dalgety from the win with 2:55 to go. Matteo Sinon made three free throws and Ryan Miles-Ferguson put in two more in the final minute to close out the victory for the Green and Gold.

Sinon had 22 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and three steals, Miles-Ferguson scored 15 points, and Cork came close to a double-double on seven points and nine rebounds. Steve DeRegis also came off the bench to score eight points in just 10 minutes of play.

For Plattsburgh, Kevin Tabb was 8-for-17 from the floor for a team-best 20 points. Jeremiah Smith had 10 points off the bench, shooting 5-for-6 from the field.