PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Come Friday night at 7:30 p.m., the Plattsburgh State men's basketball team will hit the Memorial Hall hardwood looking to do what it did two years ago: win its first and second round games in the NCAA Tournament at home and advance to the Sweet Sixteen.

But before the Cardinals can even think about the second round on Saturday night, they've first got to deal with first round opponent Fitchburg State Friday night, who arrive to Memorial Hall with a record of 18-9 and the title of Massachusetts State Athletic Collegiate Conference (MASCAC) champions.

Tickets for Friday's first round game have been priced at $10 for adults, $5 for kids under 18 as well as all college students with a valid student ID, and free for children aged two or younger. In addition, the first 250 Plattsburgh State students that wish to purchase tickets will receive them free of charge.

Fans that are unable to attend games this weekend can follow along via live stats and live video. Those links can be found below. The team that advances between Plattsburgh State and Fitchburg State will face the winner of the Trinity/Johnson & Wales game, which will precede the Cardinals and Falcons at 5:30 p.m. The second round game is slated for 7 p.m. Saturday night.

Live Stats | Live Video

PLATTSBURGH STATE NOTES (21-5)

- The Cardinals secured a 20-win season for the sixth time in program history. Head Coach Tom Curle has been at the helm of each of those campaigns. 2015-16 marks the seventh season in which Curle's Cardinals have made the NCAA Tournament.

- Plattsburgh State is coming off a loss at home in the SUNYAC semifinals last Friday against Oswego State. Two of the five Cardinal defeats this season have come at the hands of the Lakers, who also made the field of 62 via the at-large bid.

- Only one time have the Cardinals and Falcons met in either program's existence. That occurrence came on December 3, 1977, when Plattsburgh State defeated Fitchburg State 80-48 in a neutral contest in North Adams, Mass. 

- Kyle Richardson will look to lead the Cardinals in the points column as well as on the glass. The Baldwin, N.Y., product, who was recently named the SUNYAC player of the year, averages 19.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per contest. His rebounding mark is tied for 33^rd in Div. III while his scoring mark ranks 68^th best.

- Plattsburgh State's success has had a lot to do with Edward Correa's ability to continuously hit from downtown during games. In the Cardinals' five defeats, four of which Correa played in, the senior only registered more than 10 points on one occasion. Correa is shooting a combined 5-for-21 (23.8-percent) in Plattsburgh State losses.

- Commanding the point position will be sophomores Zack Coleman and Eli Bryant. The latter averages just a shade under 10 points per game at 9.8. Coleman dishes out 3.1 assists per game, which was the seventh most in the SUNYAC.  

-As a team, Plattsburgh State ranks second in the nation in defensive rebounds per game with an average of 31.88. The Cardinals are also 25^th in defending the three-pointer and have the 41^st best scoring offense in Div III. 

-Despite three of their five losses this season coming on home court, the Cardinals are averaging 86.1 points per game in home tilts while their opponents average just 74.8 points per game at Memorial Hall.

FITCHBURG STATE NOTES (18-9)

- The Falcons enter the first round of play in the NCAA Tournament winners of their last five games, in part securing the MASCAC regular season and conference tournament championship. 

- Fitchburg State has four different players that average over 10 points per game. The Falcons are led by junior guard Jaleel Bell's 16.8 points per game. Bell also grabs 5.5 rebounds per game, tying for the third most on the team. 

- Just as Plattsburgh State does in rebounding, Fitchburg State ranks among the nation's best in steals. 11.6 steals per game places the Falcons fourth in the nation in that statistical category. Senior forward Givaughn Jones leads the team by averaging 2.1 steals per contest. 

- 6-9 senior Kwame Lee serves as the top post-player for the Falcons. The Brockton, Mass., native has totaled 34 blocks thus far in 2015-16, and averages 12.6 points per game. 

- Fitchburg State has gone 9-3 in road games this season. The Falcons are averaging 77.8 points per game on the road, just a little below their overall mark of 78.7 points per game.

Fitchburg State Schedule
Fitchburg State Statistics
Fitchburg State Roster