PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men's basketball team, which overcame a 16-point deficit in the first half, dropped a back-and-forth heartbreaker to Oswego State on Friday night at Memorial Hall, falling by an 83-82 final in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action.
 
The Cardinals traded baskets with the Lakers down the stretch, and after senior guard Brian Sortino knocked down two free throws for Oswego, sophomore guard Eli Bryant (Staten Island, N.Y./Michael J. Petrides School) drained a 3-pointer with 16 seconds left in regulation to pull Plattsburgh State within one point at 83-82.
 
Plattsburgh State attempted to force a turnover on Oswego's ensuing possession but ended up settling for fouling after six seconds bled off the clock. With the Lakers in the 1-and-1 bonus, Oswego misfired on its attempt at the line, and junior guard Eric Mack (Roosevelt, N.Y./Baldwin) came down with the rebound and used the Cardinals' final timeout. After Oswego used a timeout of its own, Plattsburgh State had eight seconds to produce either the go-ahead or game-winning basket, but the Lakers ultimately forced a missed shot and came down with the rebound, as the clock had less than a second left on it. While Oswego was fouled immediately and missed the front end of a 1-and-1, there was not enough time left on the clock for Plattsburgh State to take a second crack at the game-winner.
 
Plattsburgh State drops to 6-7 overall (2-5 SUNYAC) with the loss and returns to action tomorrow when it hosts SUNY Cortland at 2 p.m. After the game, the Cardinals will sign autographs for Clinton County youth in attendance as a part of Meet the Cardinals Day. Oswego rises to 10-4 overall (6-1 SUNYAC) and closes out its North Country trip tomorrow with a 2 p.m. contest at SUNY Potsdam.
 
While Plattsburgh State led in the early stages of the first half, Oswego scored nine unanswered points to take a 16-9 lead. The Lakers continued to balloon that advantage, and a 3-pointer by junior guard Ian Schupp with 6:47 before halftime gave the visitors a 36-20 lead, their largest of the night. Plattsburgh State started pressuring Oswego in the backcourt, and a game-tying layup by sophomore forward Ian Howard (Queens, N.Y./Springfield Gardens) with 30 seconds left in the first half capped off the Cardinals' 24-8 tear to close the opening stanza.
 
Oswego began the second half with a 13-2 run before Plattsburgh State netted seven unanswered points to draw within four. The Lakers opened up a seven-point edge on two occasions, while the Cardinals countered with eight straight points, and a layup by freshman forward Adam Jaquish (Moriah, N.Y./Moriah) with 8:39 left in regulation gave Plattsburgh State a 65-64 cushion, its only lead of the second half. The two sides traded baskets down the stretch, setting the stage for a thrilling finish.
 
Plattsburgh State shot at a 50.8 percent (31-of-61) clip from the floor on the game, and the Cardinals committed a season-low seven turnovers. Oswego shot 49.2 percent (31-of-63) from the field, including a 48 percent (12-of-25) mark from long range. Both teams finished with 36 rebounds.
 
Mack put together perhaps his most well-rounded performance of the year in 29 minutes coming off the bench, scoring a team-high 21 points while adding eight rebounds, seven blocks, three assists and a steal. His seven blocks serve as the second-highest single-game total in program history, just one shy of the program record of eight set by Jelani Simmons on Feb. 25, 2005 against SUNY Potsdam. Howard scored a career-high 20 points off 9-of-11 shooting from the floor and completed his second career double-double with a career-high-tying 12 rebounds. Sophomore guard Brandon Johnson (Greenburgh, N.Y./Woodlands) and Bryant added 13 and 10 points, respectively, with Johnson's effort coming in 29 minutes of reserve duty. Johnson also dished out a career-high seven assists.
 
For Oswego, Sortino led the way with a double-double, notching game-highs in points (25) and assists (12) in a full 40 minutes of play. Junior guard Jamir Ferebee and Schupp added 19 and 16 points, respectively, while senior center Mykelle Krecko paced the Lakers' efforts on the boards with 12 rebounds.