PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Junior forward Jonathan Patron (Huntington, N.Y. / Harborfields) led the No. 21 Plattsburgh State men's basketball team with 35 points and 13 rebounds in the Cardinals 89-76 victory over Oswego Friday night inside memorial hall to advance to the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) championship game.

Plattsburgh State improves to 21-4 overall while Oswego ended their season 14-13.

Senior guard Eli Bryant (Staten Island, N.Y./Michael J. Petrides School) scored 12 points and added six assists, junior guard Brandon Johnson (Greenburgh, N.Y./Woodlands) had 11 points and three assists while senior guard Eric Mack (Roosevelt, N.Y./Baldwin) picked up eight rebounds and had four blocks.

The Cardinals went on a six point run to start the game. Junior guard/forward Chris Middleton (New York, N.Y./Cardinal Hayes) made two free throws, sophomore guard Nick DeAngelis (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) put in a jumper and Middleton had a layup to take a 6-0 edge three minutes in.

Oswego was able to keep the Cardinals within reach until Plattsburgh State went on an 11 point spree. Bryant made a layup and the free throw, Patron put in a layup, Bryant with another layup, Patron again with a layup and Johnson finished it with a layup to take a 24-10 advantage with 12:04 left in the first half.

Oswego responded with a seven point run to cut the lead to seven and with 6:11 remaining cut it to four.

A free throw from Mack and a layup by Patron put the Cardinals up by seven. The Lakers put in a free throw and Patron made two followed by a layup from junior forward Isaiah Hill (Brooklyn, N.Y./HS for Dual Language and Asian Studies) to give Plattsburgh State a ten point edge.

The Lakers were able to make a three-pointer to head into halftime down by six with a score of 40-34.

Six minutes into the second half Oswego came within three points of Plattsburgh State but the Cardinals went on an eight point splurge to maintain their control. Patron made a layup followed by Bryant with one, then Patron had another basket and Middleton made two free throws to take an 11 point advantage.  

The Cardinals went on an 11 point spree with 8:59 left in the game to take an 18 point cushion. Johnson made a layup and free throw, followed by a three-pointer, Bryant drained a three and DeAngelis hit a three.

Plattsburgh State took their largest lead of 20 points with 4:54 remaining in the game after a layup by Bryant.

The Lakers ended up clipping the Cardinals lead to 13 by the end of the game.

Plattsburgh State is home Saturday, Feb. 23 to host the SUNYAC championship against Oneonta at 4 p.m.

Oneonta beat Brockport 89-76 in their semifinal game earlier on Friday.

The Cardinals beat Oneonta both time this season, 97-60 when they met early at Oneonta and then again at home 94-74.