PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - The Plattsburgh State men's basketball team defeated Norwich, 77-66, in the first round of the 2009 Cardinal Classic and will be facing Husson in the championship game tomorrow at 3 p.m. Norwich will take on RIT at 1 p.m. to decide third place. RIT fell to Husson, 67-75.
During the first game of the tournament, Joshua Jones posted an impressive double-double, consisting of 21 points and 12 rebounds, to help lead the Eagles over the designated visiting Tigers. Husson had a total of four players score in the double-digits, including Jones, Matt McKenzie (18), Brock Bradford (16) and CJ Hodges (10). Jones and Bradford also posted a team-high three assists, while Hodges and Jay Uhrin nabbed two steals for the Eagles.
For RIT, Scott Young sank a game-high 22 points. Brendan Harder posted 12 points and topped the Tigers with eight rebounds, four blocks and two steals. Darryl Anderson recorded a game-high six assists, as well.
Plattsburgh and Norwich came out hard during the second game, but the Cardinals took the lead just over five minutes into play and never let go for the rest of the contest. Plattsburgh posted a game-high lead of 20 points twice during the second half. Once with just under seven minutes to go when a layup by RJ Ponesse placed them up 68-48, and then again just a minute later when Carl Munnerlyn sank a jumper with help from Ponesse to put the Cards ahead 70-50.
Errol Daniyan led the scoring charge with 22 points and 12 boards. He also reached up for a game-high three blocks. Ketema Brooks and Chris Ruiz tossed out three assists apiece to lead the team. Brooks also nabbed a game-high three steals and Ruiz was third on the team in scoring with 13 points, following behind Steve Thomas with 16.
The Cadets' Antonio Davis just missed a double-double, recording 12 points and nine rebounds. Meanwhile Israel Guardado and Joshua Cabrera led Norwich with 18 points each. Guardado also had Norwich's lone block of the contest. Nickolai Havoutis posted four assists and Quincy Williams had two steals.
