PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men's basketball team reopened up the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) part of its schedule on Friday night against Fredonia, defeating the Blue Devils by an 86-54 score at Memorial Hall.
 
The Cardinals up their winning streak to four straight games, and move to 8-2 on the season, including 3-0 in SUNYAC contests.
 
Having not played in Plattsburgh State's previous game due to a finger injury, senior Kyle Richardson returned to the hardwood, tying for a game-high 19 points while collecting a game-high 13 rebounds. For the Baldwin, N.Y., native, it's his sixth double-double of the season.
 
Fellow senior Xavier Thomas was effective in all phases, netting 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting, and corralling nine rebounds. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native also collected three blocks, two assists, and one steal. Thomas sent the Memorial Hall crowd into a frenzy after throwing down a remarkable dunk off a missed Edward Correa three-point try seven minutes into the second half.
 
Two other Cardinals, Correa and freshman Jonathan Patron finished in double figures, while 13 Cardinals in total found themselves on the score sheet.
 
Plattsburgh State turned on the heat right from the start, as Correa nailed a three just 14 seconds into the game to get the Cardinals off and running.
 
A Richardson layup 7:37 into the opening stanza upped the lead to 17-6, forcing a Fredonia timeout.
 
The Blue Devils struggled mightily shooting in the first half, going 10-of-34 (29.4-percent) from the field, including just 1-of-9 from three-point range. Plattsburgh State held a 23-point advantage at the break.
 
Fredonia's Ian Helps jump started the Blue Devils in the second, scoring five of his 19 points in a span of less than a minute to cut the deficit to 21 points.
 
The Cardinals showed they weren't having any of it however, increasing their lead to as many as 33.
 
For the game, Plattsburgh State shot 46.5-percent (33-of-71) from the field, and went 8-for-22 from beyond the arc.
 
On Saturday afternoon, the Cardinals will face a familiar foe in an eerily similar situation compared to last year, as Plattsburgh State welcomes Buffalo State into Memorial Hall. Last season, the Bengals came to Memorial Hall having won six straight games before the Cardinals stopped that with an 86-71 victory. Once again, Buffalo State enters play on Saturday winners of six straight games. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.