SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men's basketball team's high-scoring performance led them to a 100-89 victory over Vermont State University (VTSU) Lyndon in the Sig Makofski Invitational consolation game on Sunday afternoon at Viniar Athletic Center. Plattsburgh had five players reach double figures led by senior guard
Kevin Tabb (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Thomas Jefferson) who earned Sig Makofski Invitational All-Tournament Team honors for his performance over the weekend. Tabb had 21 points, six steals, four assists, and four rebounds in the win over VTSU-Lyndon.
The next top performer for the Cardinals was first-year guard/forward
Nate Pondexter Jr. (Washington, D.C. / Archbishop Carroll) who had a career-high 19 points and a career-high eight rebounds.
Franklin Infante (East Rockaway, N.Y. / East Rockaway) had a strong performance as well contributing 18 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
Jeremiah Smith (Brooklyn, N.Y. / East New York Family Academy) and
Sasha Vidrini (Trieste, Italy / Liceo Rogazionisti) both were in double figures as well with 14 and 10 points respectively. Smith also grabbed eight rebounds, dished out five assists, grabbed four steals, and had three blocks while Vidirni contributed three rebounds and three steals.
For the Hornets, Gregory Gonyea Jr. led all players with 30 points and also had eight rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Gonyea Jr. also earned Sig Makofski Invitational All-Tournament Team honors. Tyler Cooper and Christian Hathorn had 14 and 13 points respectively.
The Cardinals had a strong shooting night shooting 57.4% from the field and 50.0% from the three while the Hornets shot a solid 42.4% from the field and 37.9% from three. The Cardinals made 18 of 32 free throws only shooting 56.3% compared to the Hornets 22 of 31 at 71.0%. The Cardinals had fewer turnovers and collected 27 points off turnovers while the Hornets only got 16. The rebounding battle was close, but the Cardinals had a slight edge 39 to 37 and also had a slight edge in second-chance points 19 to 17.
With the win, Plattsburgh State rises to 2-4 and is back in action on Friday, Dec. 6, when they open up SUNYAC play at Morrisville at 7:30 p.m. VTSU-Lyndon falls to 2-5 and next hosts Elms College on Thursday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m.
Plattsburgh shot 66.7% from the field in the first half which helped the Cardinals take the lead right off the back and never surrendered it going into halftime with a comfortable cushion.
Ladan Graves (Pelham, N.Y. / Pelham Memorial) got the scoring started with a layup that started a quick 6-0 burst for the Cardinals before the Hornets responded with four straight points and made the score 6-4 Cardinals at the 17:41 mark. A Vidrini three followed by a layup from Infante extended the Cardinals' lead to 19-9 with less than 15 minutes remaining in the first half. Five straight Lyndon points brought them within four, however, the Cardinals responded with six straight and pushed their lead back to double digits at 26-16 at the 11:04 mark. After trading baskets back and forth, the Cardinals' offense went on a 12-0 tear that pushed their lead to 44-22 with a little over six minutes to go. Lyndon responded with a quick five points and made the score 44-27 but the Cardinals still had control and ended the first half with four straight points and went into halftime up 52-37.
After Matt Doyle opened the scoring in the second half for the Hornets, the Cardinals responded with back-to-back layups from Pondexter Jr. and Tabb that made the score 56-39 Cardinals at the 17:52 mark. A 7-0 Lyndon run cut into the Plattsburgh lead and made the score 66-54 at the 13:06 mark. A 6-0 run led by four points from Tabb made the score 81-62 and extended the Cardinals' lead to 19 which was their largest lead of the game so far at the 7:57 mark. The Hornets responded with four points, but it was another quick 6-0 burst for the Cardinals that pushed their lead to 87-66 at the 5:37 mark. The Plattsburgh offense continued to pour it on, stopping any momentum for the Hornets, and eventually won 100-89.
