PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men's basketball team now sits just a game out of the sixth and final State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) playoff spot following a 90-56 win over SUNY New Paltz on Senior Day Saturday at Memorial Hall in conference action.
 
Prior to the start of the game, the Cardinals recognized senior forward Owen Mitchell (Potsdam, N.Y./Potsdam) and junior forward Majestic Grigg (New York, N.Y./KIPP NYC) as a part of the Senior Day festivities.
 
The Cardinals, who extended their winning streak to four, torched the nets, shooting 47.7 percent (31-of-65) from the floor and 40.7 percent (11-of-27) from 3-point range on the game. Plattsburgh State also finished with a 43-28 edge in rebounds and scored 25 points off 21 New Paltz turnovers.
 
Plattsburgh State rises to 10-9 overall (6-7 SUNYAC) with the victory and visits SUNY Cortland next on Friday, Feb. 3, at 5:30 p.m. New Paltz drops to 1-17 overall (0-12 SUNYAC) with the loss and hosts Fredonia next on Friday, Feb. 3, at 5:30 p.m. as a part of a six-game homestand to close the regular season.
 
Though New Paltz scored the first basket of the game and extended its lead back to two following a 3-pointer by junior guard Dylan Balducci, the Cardinals went on a 13-2 run and took a 16-7 advantage following back-to-back 3-pointers by junior guard Eli Bryant (Staten Island, N.Y./Michael J. Petrides School) and Mitchell. New Paltz netted five straight points to cut the gap to four, but Plattsburgh State broke the game open with a 17-3 spurt in response. Though the Cardinals led by as many as 22 in the first half, the Hawks closed the period on a 12-4 run to whittle the deficit to 43-29 heading into the locker rooms.
 
New Paltz was unable to match Plattsburgh State in the second half, as the Cardinals led by as many as 36 points late in the period to cruise to the victory.
 
Patron led Plattsburgh State with his sixth double-double of the season, recording game-highs in points (17) and rebounds (10). Bryant added 12 points, while Mitchell dropped in a career-high 10. Sophomore guard Brandon Johnson (Greenburgh, N.Y./Woodlands) chipped in 13 points coming off the bench.
 
For New Paltz, sophomore guard/forward Malik Seelal poured in a team-high 14 points in 16 minutes of reserve duty, while freshman forward/center Nick Arthur chipped in 11. Sophomore guard Cory Garcia stuffed the stat sheet with eight assists, seven rebounds, three steals and three points.