PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - Three-straight three-pointers, two by Chris Ruiz and one by Carl Munnerlyn, helped the Plattsburgh State men's basketball team jump out to an early 9-2 lead over visiting Oneonta. The Cardinals won the game, 78-56, and improve their record to 11-6 for the season, 6-4 in the State University of New York Athletic Conference. Oneonta falls to 12-5 overall, 5-5 in the conference.

Ruiz led the Cardinals in scoring during the night, posting 19 points on the scoreboard. Munnerlyn and Steve Thomas contributed 17 apiece, while Errol Daniyan tossed up 14. Thomas, Daniyan and Tim Havens each pulled down a team-high five boards.

Munnerlyn continued his scoring hot streak, shooting .750 percent (6-8) from the field and .600 percent (3-5) from behind the arc. He also went 2-for-2 from the free-throw line.

Brian Beckford was the lone Red Dragon to score in the double-digits, recording 16 points, and he also racked up a team-high eight rebounds. Brian Hooks and Troy Talbot tied for second on the team in scoring with nine points each.

Plattsburgh pulled ahead by as much as 21 points with under two minutes to go in the first half, at the buzzer to signal halftime the Cardinals led 40-24.

In the second half, Plattsburgh put on a show and kept their advantage over the Red Dragons at or just below 20 points for the majority of the 20 minutes. Oneonta did manage to cut that lead down to 13 with 9:21 left to play, but the Cardinals quickly responded and were up by 18 before a minute passed on the clock.

Plattsburgh stays home tomorrow to take on New Paltz at 4 p.m.