Box Score PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Shamoy McIntosh threw down a ferocious dunk off of the opening tip, and his night just kept getting better from there as the sophomore netted a career-high 23 points to lead the Cardinals past New Paltz 75-70 on Friday night in Memorial Hall.  

The Floral Park, N.Y., product’s point total was the highest single-game tally of any Plattsburgh State player so far in the 2012-13 campaign, and it helped the Cardinals improve to 9-5 and 5-2 in league play while the Hawks slipped to 6-8 and 4-3 in SUNYAC confrontations.

McIntosh came out red hot, scoring eight of the first 13 points for the Cardinals as part of a 13-4 surge to open the game by the home squad.

Kevin Roach was able to whittle the Plattsburgh State advantage all the way down to two with a fast break layup that made matters 18-16 Cardinals with nine minutes to go in the opening frame, but Shavar Fields swung the momentum back to the home team.

After Kalik Parker pulled down one of his seven rebounds, he turned things over to Mike Mitchell who spied Fields galloping uncontested down the center of the court. The junior took to the sky and unleashed another fearsome one-handed jam that began a 4-0 spurt by the Cardinals.

Maintaining a lead of seven thanks to long balls from Parker and Ezra Hodgson on back-to-back possessions, the Cardinals went to the locker room up by just two, 30-28, courtesy of a 5-0 run by the Hawks that included a triple by Shereef Taylor.

Over the final 4:24 of the opening half, the Cardinals went 0-of-5 from the field and committed a pair of turnovers which allowed New Paltz to creep as close as they did.

Whistled for a pair of personal fouls that forced him to the Hawks’ bench in the early stages of the first half, Deveino McRae’s curtain call proved to be far more effective. The freshman tallied four points and Matt Devine’s triple try found nothing but the bottom of the net as part of a 7-4 run by the Hawks to open up the deciding frame.

Fortunately, John Perez and McIntosh were on hand to make sure things didn’t get too far out of control for the Cardinals. A pair of layups from Perez and another triple from the still-sizzling McIntosh gave the Cardinals the lead for the remainder of the game.

Although Perez and McIntosh were the primary catalysts of the Plattsburgh State offense, formidable five-man Reggie Williams was summoned from the talented Cardinal bench to provide a spark. The junior did just that, netting six points while hauling in four rebounds in just 13 minutes.

Williams’ well-rounded evening continued with a pair of blocked shots, two assists and a steal. The Hawks never truly faded away, though, thanks to the play of Matt Devine who netted a team-high 22 points and drilled four of his eight attempts from downtown.

One of those makes from beyond the arc cut the Plattsburgh State lead to 52-49 with 11:16 to go, but a 13-4 run by the Cardinals that occurred largely from the charity stripe gave Plattsburgh State a 65-53 lead with 6:42 to go.

All but five points were scored at the free throw line during the decisive run by the home squad, including a deep triple from the wing off the hands of Edward Correa. Mike Mitchell went 4-of-4 from the line during the stretch as well.

New Paltz would threaten one final time, getting within five after a fast break layup from Taylor made things 70-65, but a pair of free throws from Williams and McIntosh’s final triple with 1:55 to go put a fork in the Hawks for good.

Although the Cardinals (23-of-70; 32.9 percent) shot at a worse clip than New Paltz (23-of-59; 39 percent), they made up for it by committing fewer turnovers (19) than the Hawks (25). Plattsburgh State also doubled up New Paltz in the thievery department, snatching 16 steals.

Perez added 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds to the Plattsburgh State cause.

Taylor finished with 13 points and game-high 10 rebounds and Taylor Sowah rounded out the main New Paltz scoring contingent by netting 13.

Plattsburgh State will look to remain undefeated at home in SUNYAC games when Oneonta State comes calling on Saturday. The tip is scheduled for 4 p.m. between the Cardinals and Red Dragons.