BROCKPORT, N.Y. – A strong first half pushes the Plattsburgh State men's basketball team past Brockport on Saturday evening in State University of New York Athletic (SUNYAC) play, winning 69-64. After a thriller of a win in their previous matchup and this evening's win, the Cardinals earned the season sweep over Brockport. Ikechukwu Ezike (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Paul Robeson) led the Cardinals in points with 19, a new Plattsburgh State career-high, and collected 10 rebounds, also a Plattsburgh State career high for the junior guard/forward, to post his first double-double of the season.
 
Kevin Tabb poured in 13 points to go with four rebounds and two steals. Willard Anderson Jr. (Buffalo, N.Y. / East) contributed to the overall effort with nine points, three rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. Franklin Infante (East Rockaway, N.Y. / East Rockaway) was making plays for the Cardinals as he led the team with five assists to match his five points and also collected four rebounds. Dylan Trombley (Moriah, N.Y. / Moriah) hounded the boards as he had seven rebounds to go along with five points and two assists.
 
For the Golden Eagles, Tony Arnold led all scorers with 21 points. Alex Tavarez was also in double figures with 10.
 
Both teams shot the ball at nearly the same clip as the Cardinals shot 36.6% and the Golden Eagles 36.1%. The Cardinals however did shoot better from the three making 8 of 25 at 32.0% and the Golden Eagles 5 of 19 at 26.3%. The Golden Eagles slightly outrebounded the Cardinals 48-47 and got more second-chance points than the Cardinals with 16 to the Cardinals 12. The Cardinals won the turnover battle 13-16 and got 18 points off turnovers compared to the Golden Eagles 13.
 
Plattsburgh rises to 9-9 overall (6-5 SUNYAC) and heads back to Memorial Hall as they start a three-game homestand with a matchup against Potsdam on Tuesday, Jan. 30 at 7:30 pm. Brockport falls to 12-6 overall (8-4 SUNYAC) and are back in action on Tuesday, Jan. 30 as they travel to take on Buffalo State.
 
The first half was closely contested for the majority as there were multiple lead changes until the Cardinals went on a run to pull away with a double-digit lead. Tabb got the first half started with a layup followed by a Jevonny Brown layup. The Cardinals scored six straight before Brown made a layup that made the score 8-4 Cardinals with less than 16 minutes to play. At the 14:39 mark, the Golden Eagles took the lead on an Arnold three that made the score 9-8. After four straight points, the Cardinals regained the lead 12-10. Trombley and Zachary Rice exchanged threes that made the score 15-14 Cardinals. The lead changed again as Rice made a layup followed by an Ezike dunk, a Caquan Wester layup and Ezike three that made the score 20-18 Cardinals with less than 10 minutes to play. The Cardinals went on a 17-4 run from the 5:30 mark until the end of the half and made the score 45-29 Cardinals at halftime.
 
The second half saw the Golden Eagles make runs and the Cardinals respond as they were able to outlast the Golden Eagles' efforts. The Golden Eagles opened the second half with five straight points before Tim Thomas (Manhattan, N.Y. / Commonwealth Academy (Mass.)) got the Cardinals on the board with a free throw with less than 18 minutes to play. A free throw from Arnold cut the Cardinal lead to nine before Tabb made a layup that made the score 50-39 Cardinals with less than 15 minutes to play. Both teams traded baskets as an and-one jumper from Tavarez, an Ezike layup, and a three from Nathaniel Gordon made the score 52-45 Cardinals and cut the lead back to single digits with less than 11 minutes to play. Gordon and Thomas exchanged threes that made the score 57-50 Cardinals with less than eight minutes to play. An 8-0 run for the Golden Eagles from the 4:14 mark until the 1:58 mark made the score 63-62 Cardinals before Tabb made a jumper that ended the run and made the score 65-62 Cardinals. With a little over a minute left and the Cardinal lead still three, the Cardinals stood tall defensively and Tabb made two free throws that put the game away 69-64 Cardinals.