ONEONTA, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men's basketball team came from behind to win against Oneonta in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) contest. The Cardinals were led by Dylan Trombley (Moriah, N.Y. / Moriah) who led all scorers with 28 points to set a Plattsburgh State career-high with his college career high being 30. Trombley also grabbed five rebounds and three steals to go along with his high-scoring night against his former team.  
 
Ikechukwu Ezike (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Paul Robeson) and Sasha Vidrini (Trieste, Italy / Liceo Rogazionisti) contributed to the scoring effort with 15 each. Vidrini added four rebounds and three assists while Ezike added three rebounds. Kevin Tabb(Brooklyn, N.Y. / Thomas Jefferson) was also in double figures with 10 points to go along with five rebounds, four assists, and two steals as he had an all-around game. Tim Thomas (Manhattan, N.Y. / Commonwealth Academy (Mass.)) and Franklin Infante (East Rockaway, N.Y. / East Rockaway) were impactful in the rebounding game with five and four rebounds respectively to which Infante added five points to go with. Jeremiah Smith (Brooklyn, N.Y. / East New York Family Academy) added seven points off the bench. 
 
For the Red Dragons, Elijah Castillo and Graham Wooden led the team with 23 each. Xavier Hill also contributed to the offensive effort with 15. 
 
Plattsburgh shot an efficient 47.5% from the field while Oneonta shot a solid 41.9%. The Cardinals were efficient from the three as well as they made 10 of 22 at 45.5% while the Red Dragons made 7 of 19 at 36.8%. The Red Dragons dominated the boards 44-32 which led to 22 second-chance points for them compared to the Cardinals' nine. The Cardinals won the turnover battle 9-18 and got 23 points off turnover compared to the Red Dragons 10. The bench for the Cardinals was also a factor as they outscored the Red Dragons bench 29-16. 
 
Plattsburgh moves to 8-7 overall (5-3 SUNYAC) and are back in action tomorrow, Jan. 20 at 4 pm as they continue on the road for a matchup against New Paltz. Oneonta moves to 6-8 overall (3-4 SUNYAC) and are back in action tomorrow as they host Potsdam with a 4 pm tip-off. 
 
The first half was back and forth as both teams held the lead and went on runs. Ezike got the Cardinals on the board first with a layup followed by a Castillo jumper that tied the game. Both teams exchanged buckets as Ezike made a layup and Hill a three that made the score 5-4 Red Dragons with a little over 18 minutes to play. The Cardinals retook the lead on a Trombley free throw and added to it on a Tabb layup. The Red Dragons went on a 9-0 run from the 17:10 mark until the 13:19 mark when Tabb made a layup that made the score 14-10 Red Dragons. The Cardinals responded with a 9-0 run of their own from the 13:19 mark until the 11:31 mark that made the score 17-14 Cardinals. The Red Dragons regained the lead at the 3:27 mark on a three from Wooden that made the score 37-36 Red Dragons. Smith tied the game at 37 momentarily before Mohammad Sylla made a layup that put the Red Dragons ahead once again. Vidrini ended the half with a free throw that made the score 43-39 Red Dragons. 
 
The second half saw the Cardinals trail by double figures and launch a successful comeback. Castillo opened the half with a layup followed by a Trombley layup. Delano Knox made a free throw that made the score 53-43 Red Dragons and stretched their lead to double figures with less than 17 minutes to play. At the 15:47 mark, the Red Dragons got their largest lead of the game (14) on a free throw that made the score 59-45. The Cardinals went on a 7-0 run from the 15:05 mark until the 14:09 mark and cut the lead back down to single digits. Brown made two free throws that made the score 65-54 Red Dragons as they led by double figures again with less than 12 minutes to play. The Cardinals went on an 11-0 run from the 8:09 mark until the 5:47 mark and took the lead momentarily 70-69 before two made free throws by Sylla gave the Red Dragons back the lead 71-70. The lead switched again as Ezike made two free throws and Wooden a layup that made the score 74-72 Red Dragons. At the 2:48 mark, Smith tied the game on a layup and then Vidrini gave the Cardinals the lead on a three that made the score 79-76. Castillo cut the Cardinal lead to three which Trombley responded with a clutch three that made the score 84-78 and stretched the Cardinal lead to six with less than a minute to play. The lead held as the Cardinals made two of four free throws when intentionally sent to the line and won 86-80.