BROCKPORT, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men's basketball team lost a thriller on Saturday afternoon to the Brockport Golden Eagles, falling in the final moments 67-66 in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play. The game was close throughout, as neither pushed their lead to double digits throughout the 40 minutes of action. 
 
Kevin Tabb (Brooklyn, N.Y./Thomas Jefferson) was the leading scorer for Plattsburgh State on Saturday evening, putting up 16 points while also pulling down four rebounds and grabbing two steals. Franklin Infante (East Rockaway, N.Y./East Rockaway) nearly had a triple-double, totaling 12 points, adding nine rebounds and eight assists, while also recording two steals. Erik Salo (Delmar, N.Y./Bethlehem Central) and Myles Jones (Alexandria, Va./Blue Ridge School) each were in double-figure scoring totals, with Salo recording 12 points and seven rebounds and Jones adding 10 points. Tony Arnold was the game's leading scorer, posting 24 points while also hitting the game-winner with 14 seconds to go. 
 
Both teams were strong from the field in the SUNYAC match, with Plattsburgh shooting 42.6% and Brockport shooting 39.1%. The Golden Eagles failed to make any threes in the matchup but made up for that with 17 makes at the free-throw line. Brockport also was the stronger team in the paint, outrebounding Plattsburgh 46-34 and outscoring them 48-34 in the paint. 
 
The Cardinals drop to 8-13 and 4-10 in conference play, as they split their weekend trip to the surrounding Rochester area. They will return home as they finish the season on a four-game homestand, beginning with a matchup with Fredonia on Friday, Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m. for Rock the Red Night. Brockport now stands at 17-4 and 12-2 in conference play as they strengthen their hold on second place in the conference. They take on Oneonta on the road in their next matchup, playing Friday, Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m.
 
Plattsburgh began the game strongly, jumping out to a quick 7-0 lead on the backs of Infante and Tabb. Brockport soon found themselves back in the game, taking their first lead at the 14:46 mark. After a Salo layup to put Plattsburgh done one point, the Golden Eagles had a quick 8-0 run as they took the largest lead of the game at nine points. Infante ended the run with a lay-in, kickstarting a 14-7 scoring swing that allowed Plattsburgh to tie the game heading into halftime, with Infante scoring the final bucket of the period to make the score 33-33.
 
In the second half, the game remained close, as the teams were deadlocked at 56 with 7:52 to go. The Cardinals then scored seven unanswered points, thanks to a Salo lay-in, a Jones three, and a Jones lay-in, as Plattsburgh found themselves with a 63-56 lead with just over two minutes to go. The Cards, however, then went over two minutes without a bucket, allowing Colby Jordan to tie the game with 1:35 to go, and then Arnold to take the lead with 51 seconds left. Trailing by one, head coach Mike Blaine put the ball in the hands of Tabb, who drove baseline and kicked out to Sheriff Conteh (Bronx, N.Y./Our Saviour Lutheran), who knocked down a contested three-pointer to give Plattsburgh the lead with 26 seconds to go. Brockport then responded with another Arnold lay-in, giving the lead right back to the Golden Eagles. The Cardinals were able to get one more chance at the rim, but the shot could net find the bottom of the net, giving Brockport a hard-fought win.