CANTON, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men's basketball team dropped a road State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) contest to Canton, falling 93-88 on Saturday evening. Junior guard Kareem Welch (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Thomas Jefferson) paced the Cardinal offense with a career-high 30 points to go with four rebounds, two assists, and a block.

Senior guard Franklin Infante (East Rockaway, N.Y. / East Rockaway) had a strong performance as well with 18 points, two rebounds, and a steal. First-year guard/forward Nate Pondexter Jr. (Washington, D.C. / Archbishop Carroll) notched double figures on the day as well with 13 points to go with a game-high seven rebounds and one assist. Senior guard Kevin Tabb (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Thomas Jefferson) had an impactful day on the offensive and defensive end, leading the Cardinals in assists with five while contributing seven points, grabbing six rebounds, and collecting three steals. Ikechukwu Ezike (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Paul Robeson) and Ladan Graves (Pelham, N.Y. / Pelham Memorial) both grabbed six rebounds while Ezike had six points, two assists, and one steal and Graves had four points and a steal. Sasha Vidrini (Trieste, Italy / Liceo Rogazionisti) led the team in steals with four while Matt Kone-Bradshaw (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Adams Street Academy) contributed four points.

For the Kangaroos, Nate Cohen led his team in scoring with 23 points followed by Kevin Goode Jr. with 19 points and a game-high seven assists. Bryon Streb and Tanner Sullivan both were in double figures with 18 and 14 points.

While the Cardinals shot well from the field, shooting 42.5% they only shot 21.1% from behind the arc whereas the Kangaroos had a huge advantage from behind the arc knocking down 14 of 28 at 50.0% while shooting 54.1%. The Cardinals shot well at the free throw line, shooting 91.7% while the Kangaroos only shot 72.2%. The Cardinals dominated the glass 40-28, recording 14 second-chance points compared to the Kangaroos' nine. Both teams recorded double-digit turnovers, but the Cardinals took advantage with 24 points off turnovers while the Kangaroos had 20.

Plattsburgh State falls to 12-11 (9-7 SUNYAC) and is back in action on Friday, Feb. 21 when they host Buffalo State for their Morgan's Message dedication game at 7:30 p.m. Canton moves to 4-19 (4-12) and is back in action on Friday, Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m. when they host Morrisville.

After both teams exchanged layups to open the first half a 6-0 run led by Vidrini with three points put Plattsburgh ahead 11-5 at the 15:21 mark. Another quick run for Plattsburgh pushed the Cardinals' lead to 16-7 but Canton battled back and tied the game at 22 after Edram Gbekou knocked down a three-pointer at the 8:25 mark. An and-one jumper from Infante gave Plattsburgh a 25-24 lead but play continued to go back and forth as back-to-back three-pointers from Canton made the score 31-30 before Canton took a 34-33 lead momentarily at the 4:17 mark. Infante responded with a layup and put the Cardinals back on top once again as Plattsburgh ended the first half with two free throws from Pondexter Jr. that made the score 47-43 at halftime.

The second half didn't see a basket until the 18:32 mark when Ezike drove to the basket for a layup extending Plattsburgh's lead to 49-43 but Canton kept up the offensive pressure and tied the game at 51 after Cohen knocked down a three at the 15:39 mark. Canton's lead was short-lived after Ezike responded right away with a layup that started a 6-0 run that featured four points from Welch and made the score 57-51 Cardinals at the 12:54 mark. Canton kept it close throughout before ultimately taking a 77-75 lead momentarily at the 4:20 mark after back-to-back three-pointers. Welch responded with a three-pointer of his own as Plattsburgh regained the lead but there were three more lead changes as Canton used a 5-0 burst to take an 87-82 lead at the 1:37 mark. A jumper from Streb pushed the Kangaroos' lead to 89-84 with one minute remaining, however, Welch responded with a layup that made the score 89-86 with less than 30 seconds remaining. A layup from Sullivan followed by two free throws from Streb gave the Kangaroos' lead a six-point cushion as Plattsburgh ultimately fell 93-88.