CORTLAND, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men's basketball team fell to Cortland in a nail-biting State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) matchup at Whitney T. Corey '43 Gymnasium on Saturday evening. After two free throws put the Cardinals up by four late in the second half, Cortland finished the second half with five straight points that ended with a three-pointer at the buzzer, securing the Red Dragons the 64-63 win.

The Cardinal offense was led by junior guard Kareem Welch (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Thomas Jefferson) who had 20 points, a career-high four steals, three rebounds, as well as two assists. Another Cardinal reached double figures on the evening in senior guard Franklin Infante (East Rockaway, N.Y. / East Rockaway) who had 12 points, six rebounds, and two assists. Senior guard/forward Jeremiah Smith (Brooklyn, N.Y. / East New York Family Academy) keyed the Cardinal defense with three blocks and a steal as well as contributing a team-high seven rebounds and recording six points. Nate Pondexter Jr. (Washington, D.C. / Archbishop Carroll) and Kevin Tabb (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Thomas Jefferson) both put in eight points and three rebounds.

For the Red Dragons, Aaron Coston led all players in points with 21 to go with three blocks while Kendall Arcuri also was in double figures with 13 points to pair with a game-high nine rebounds and a game-high six assists.

While the Cardinals were solid from the field shooting 39.1%, they only made one three-pointer while the Red Dragons made 14 at 51.9% as well as shooting 45.8% from the field. The Cardinals were better at the free throw line knocking down 12 of 16 at 75.0% while the Red Dragons only made 6 of 9 at 66.7%. The Cardinals won the rebounding battle 37-31 which led to 10 second chance points compared to four for the Red Dragons. The Cardinals forced 19 turnovers, including 11 steals, that led to 16 points off turnovers, and had eight turnovers that led to only six points off turnovers for the Red Dragons.

Plattsburgh State moves to 3-5 (1-1 SUNYAC) and next plays in the new year on Jan. 4, when they host Vermont State University (VTSU) Johnson. Cortland moves to 2-4 overall (1-1 SUNYAC) and are back in action next Saturday, Jan. 14 at 1 p.m. when they travel to Hamilton.

The first half started with five straight points from Cortland before Infante got the Cardinals on the board with a layup. Cortland responded with back-to-back threes pushing the Red Dragons' lead to 11-2 at the 15:48 mark. Coston and Irwayne Connell Jr. (Brooklyn, N.Y. / National Christian Academy) traded three-pointers followed by a Connell Jr. layup that made the score 17-11 Red Dragons at the 10:27 mark. Cortland knocked down two three-pointers while Welch put in three layups that made the score 26-21 Red Dragons at the 4:47 mark. After Welch and Acuri traded baskets, the Cardinals closed the first half with back-to-back baskets that made the score 33-29 Red Dragons at halftime.

The second half didn't see a made basket until the 16:53 mark when Pondexter Jr. knocked down a jumper that started a chain of back-and-forth scoring ending with a three from Jaylen Warmack that made the score 39-33 Red Dragons. An 8-0 burst for the Cardinals tied the game at 43 momentarily before Gerrad Beaurbun made two free throws that put Cortland back ahead 45-43 at the 8:26 mark. Another run by Plattsburgh gave the Cardinals their first lead of the second half at 55-52 with a little over three minutes remaining. An and-one layup from Acurri tied the game but Smith put the Cardinals back ahead with a layup that made the score 57-55 at the 2:31 mark. The Cardinals put in back-to-back baskets that pushed their lead to 61-56, however, Cortland responded with a three that made the score 61-59 Cardinals with less than 20 seconds to go. Infante cashed in on two free throws after being fouled and pushed the Cardinals lead to 63-59 but Cortland scored the final five points of the game ending with a three-pointer at the buzzer by Coston as the Cardinals fell 64-63.