PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men's basketball team closed out the 2017 year with five Cardinals scoring in double digits in their 77-70 victory over Clarkson University Saturday afternoon in Memorial Hall to move to 5-4 overall.

Senior guard Eli Bryant (Staten Island, N.Y./Michael J. Petrides School) came off the bench to pace the Cardinals with 18 points and added four assists. Four other Cardinals joined Bryant scoring in double digits including junior guard Brandon Johnson (Greenburgh, N.Y./Woodlands) with 16 points, junior guard/forward Chris Middleton (New York, N.Y./Cardinal Hayes) with 13, junior forward Jonathan Patron (Huntington, N.Y. / Harborfields) with 11 and senior guard Eric Mack (Roosevelt, N.Y./Baldwin) with ten.

Plattsburgh State led 5-0 at the 15:26 mark thanks to Mack making two free throws and a three-pointer. Clarkson tied the game 7-7 and the lead changed six times before the game was tied again, this time 16-16 with 8:22 remaining in the first half.

The game was tied three more times and the lead changed three times before Plattsburgh State took a five point edge with two three-pointers from Bryant and Middleton. Clarkson put in a layup but two free throws from Mack kept the Cardinals up 35-30 at halftime.

Plattsburgh State took a nine point advantage two minutes into the second thanks to back-to-back three-pointers by sophomore guard Nick DeAngelis (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) and Mack.

Clarkson went on a ten point run to take a one point advantage but Johnson took it back with a jumper and three-pointer to give Plattsburgh State a four point edge.

The Cardinals went on a six point bender to take a ten point edge with 9:55 left in the game. Patron put in a layup, Johnson made two free throws and senior guard Zack Coleman (Putnam Valley, N.Y./Putnam Valley) made two free throws.

Clarkson cut the lead to three points after an eight point run, tied the game 66-66 with 2:33 left and took a one point advantage with a free throw.

Plattsburgh State retaliated with a nine point spree to lead 75-67 with 45 seconds remaining. Middleton drained a three-pointer and made a free throw, Johnson made a three and Bryant put in two free throws.

Clarkson made a three pointer with 32 seconds left and Bryant ended the game with two free throws to give the Cardinals their seven point win.

Junior forward Ian Howard (Queens, N.Y./Springfield Gardens) picked up a team high of nine rebounds for the Cardinals while Middleton and Patron each had seven.

The Cardinals are on the road Friday, Jan. 5, for a conference game against Buffalo State at 7:30 p.m.