MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – After a clutch three-pointer from senior guard Franklin Infante (East Rockaway, N.Y. / East Rockaway) tied the game with less than 30 seconds to go sending it into overtime, the Plattsburgh State men's basketball team outscored the Mustangs 20-9 to win their first State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) contest of the season 91-80 over Morrisville. Senior guard Kevin Tabb (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Thomas Jefferson) led the way for the Cardinals with a game-high 22 points, six rebounds, five steals, and four assists.

Nate Pondexter Jr. (Washington, D.C. / Archbishop Carroll) recorded his first double-double of the season with 20 points and 11 rebounds both Plattsburgh career-highs. The offense had contributions from Infante and Irwayne Connell Jr. (Brooklyn, N.Y. / National Christian Academy) as well who had 19 and 15 points respectively as Connell Jr. recorded a Plattsburgh career-high. Infante also had seven rebounds and five assists while Connell Jr. had five rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. Jeremiah Smith (Brooklyn, N.Y. / East New York Family Academy) recorded nine points, six rebounds, three assists, and two blocks on the night.

For the Mustangs, Jordan Coard led his team in points with 16 to go with 11 rebounds for a double-double. Jalyn Moorehead and Kareem Sanders also reached double figures with 15 and 11 respectively.

The Cardinals shot an efficient 42.3% from the field but only 16.7% from behind the arc only making three while the Mustangs doubled their makes with seven from behind the arc shooting 28.0% and 39.5% from the field. The Cardinals went 28 of 36 from the free throw line shooting 77.8% while the Mustangs only shot 60.0% on 9 of 15. The Cardinals had the edge in the rebounding battle 52-46 but the Mustangs had more second-chance points with 18 to the Cardinals' 11. Both teams had double-digit turnovers, but the Cardinals recorded 27 points off turnovers compared to the Mustangs 20.

Plattsburgh State rises to 3-4 overall (1-0 SUNYAC) with the win and are back in action tomorrow, Dec. 7 with a matchup against Cortland at 3 p.m. Morrisville falls to 3-3 overall (0-1 SUNYAC) with the loss and next hosts Potsdam tomorrow, Dec. 7 at 4 p.m.

After Morrisville opened the first half with a layup from Chris Merilus and a free throw from Merilus as well, the Cardinals got back-to-back layups from Tabb and Pondexter Jr. that made the score 4-3 Cardinals at the 17:54 mark. The game remained close until a 9-0 burst courtesy of Connell Jr. gave Plattsburgh a 15-8 lead at the 13:04 mark. Morrisville battled back and tied the game at 17 off an Avion Grainger layup at the 9:14 mark. A Pondexter Jr. layup and Tabb jumper put the Cardinals back ahead 21-17 however a three from Jacob Works gave the Mustangs a 22-21 lead at the 5:58 mark. Pondexter Jr. tied the game at 22 all and 24 all but back-to-back baskets from Morrisville put the Mustangs back on top 28-24. Gameplay continued to go back and forth as a Jaiden Gladney (Charleston, W. Va. / Jefferson) layup followed by a layup from Grainer ended the first half and made the score 40-34 Mustangs.

Jon Corl opened the second half with a jumper followed by a 10-0 tear from Plattsburgh that made the score 44-42 Cardinals at the 16:40 mark. Shortly after Morrisville tied the game at 44 all but a jumper from Tabb put the Cardinals back ahead 46-44. Back-to-back three-pointers from Moorehead gave Morrisville a 50-48 lead momentarily before Tabb tied the game with two free throws at the 13:38 mark. Morrisville took the lead again on a Yvan Fils-Aime layup at the 10:47 mark that made the score 54-52 and held it for most of the rest of the half but the Cardinals stayed close only trailing by as much as six. Four straight points from Pondexter Jr. tied the score at 66 at the 3:38 mark. Infante put in a layup that put the Cardinals ahead 68-66 momentarily but five straight points from Moorehead put Morrisville ahead 71-68 with less than a minute to go. However, Infante responded with a clutch three-pointer that tied the game at 71 with less than 30 seconds to go sending it into overtime.

Infante continued to be the answer for the Cardinals starting overtime with a 4-0 run by himself that made the score 75-71 Cardinals at the 4:13 mark.  A three-pointer from Fils-Aime cut Plattsburgh's lead to one at the 3:39 mark but a 7-0 burst put the Cardinals back in control 82-74 with two minutes remaining. While a free throw from Moorehead ended the Cardinals' run, Plattsburgh didn't lose any momentum, outscoring Morrisville 9-5 the rest of the way for a 91-80 overtime win.