PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The fourth-seeded Plattsburgh State men's basketball team won their State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) tournament first-round game over the fifth-seeded Morrisville Mustangs 69-66 which was Plattsburgh's first win in the postseason since the 2017-18 season. The Cardinals were led by senior guard Franklin Infante (East Rockaway, N.Y. / East Rockaway) with his third straight 20-point game as he surpassed the 1,000-point mark of his career. Infante finished with a game-high 21 points to go with his seven rebounds.

Junior guard Kareem Welch (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Thomas Jefferson) also surpassed the 1,000-point mark of his career as he finished the night with 10 points, four rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and a steal. Senior guard Kevin Tabb (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Thomas Jefferson) had a strong outing for Plattsburgh with 13 points, four rebounds, four steals, two assists, and a block while senior guard/forward Jeremiah Smith (Brooklyn, N.Y. / East New York Family Academy) had 12 points, four rebounds, a career-high four steals, two assists, and a block. Defensively, senior guard/forward Ikechukwu Ezike (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Paul Robeson) led the way with four blocks to pair with seven rebounds and five points.

For the Mustangs, Kareem Sanders led his team in scoring with 14 points to go with a game-high five steals. Kaelem Haskins was also in double figures with 10 points while Chris Merilus and Yvan Fils-Aime both had nine points.

The Cardinals outshot the Mustangs from the field, shooting a solid 39.7% to the Mustangs' 37.1% but the Mustangs shot better from the stripe, shooting 78.3%, making 18 of 23 while the Cardinals shot 73.9%, knocking down 17 of 23.  Both teams made 2 of 13 three-pointers, only shooting 15.4%. The Mustangs had the edge in the rebounding battle 43-38 and second-chance points 11-10. The Cardinals had fewer turnovers and got 15 points off turnovers while the Mustangs had 11.

Plattsburgh State rises to 15-11 overall and will move on in the SUNYAC tournament, taking on top-seeded New Paltz in the semifinals on the road on Friday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m. Morrisville concludes their season 13-13.

Plattsburgh used a 6-0 run courtesy of Infante to jump out to an early 6-0 lead before a layup plus the foul from Merilus made the score 6-3 at the 17:21 mark. Another quick scoring burst from Plattsburgh extended the Cardinals' lead to 13-5, however, Morrisville responded with four straight points and made the score 14-9 midway through the first half. Two free throws from Tabb pushed Plattsburgh's lead to as high as eight with less than five minutes remaining in the half but the Mustangs finished the half strong on a 8-0 run led by Haskins with six points that tied the score at 28 going into halftime.

Plattsburgh opened the scoring in the second half with a layup from Infante as both teams continued to trade baskets. Morrisville stayed close and tied the game at 39 and 41 before a jumper from Tabb and a layup from Welch put Plattsburgh back ahead 45-41 at the 12:34 mark. The Cardinals added to their lead when Nate Pondexter Jr. (Washington, D.C. / Archbishop Carroll) made a layup followed by a jumper from Infante that made the score 52-47. With a little over five minutes to go a three-pointer from Nokio Kennedy and a layup from CJ McCollum brought the Mustangs within two points. The game continued to go back and forth as Smith pushed the Cardinals' lead to 65-62 after scoring three straight points followed by a layup from Aime-Fils that made the score 65-62 at the 3:02 mark. However, Tabb pushed the Cardinals' lead back to five when he made a layup, but Morrisville responded again with a 4-0 burst that made the score 67-66 as the Mustangs came within one. With less than five seconds remaining the Mustangs intentionally fouled Tabb and he knocked down two clutch free throws that cushioned Plattsburgh's lead to 69-66. The Mustangs had a chance to tie but the Cardinals' defense stood tall as Plattsburgh held on for a 69-66 win.