SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Career-highs from senior guard
Reem Welch (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Thomas Jefferson) and sophomore guard
Jaiden Gladney (Charlestown, W. Va. / Jefferson) power the Plattsburgh State Men's basketball team to an 80-73 season-opening win over Skidmore in non-conference action on Saturday evening at Williamson Sports Center. Welch finished with a double-double off a career-high 36 points, a team-high 12 rebounds, and four assists, while Gladney had a career-high 20 points to pair with five rebounds and a team-high two steals.
Elijah Morris (Mount Vernon, N.Y. / Mount Vernon) and
Irwayne Connell Jr. (Monroe CC / Saint Thomas Aquinas) had solid outings with nine and eight points, respectively, while Morris chipped in three assists and Connell Jr. anchored the paint with a game-high three blocks.
Colin Hartig (Hohen Neuendorf, Germany / Neues Gymnasium Glienicke) and
Khalil Screen (Providence, R.I. / Classical) both impacted the game as well, grabbing seven rebounds each, which was a career-high for Hartig.
For the Thoroughbreds, Jacob Gooden paced his team with 20 points, while Joey Skoric netted a double-double with a game-high 15 rebounds and 12 points. Charlie Fantom was in double figures with 11 points, and Aidan Roy led the team in assists with four.
Overall, for the game, Plattsburgh shot a strong 47.4% from the field but weren't as accurate from behind the arc, shooting 20.0%. Skidmore also had a strong shooting percentage from the field, shooting 40.8%, but only shot 26.7% from the three-point line. The Cardinals had the rebounding advantage (42-37) and collected seven second-chance points, while Skidmore had 11. Skidmore just edged out Plattsburgh in points in the paint (42-40) and took advantage of points off turnovers with 13 compared to the Cardinals' nine.
After over six minutes of play, Skidmore led 11-5, but an 11-0 tear from Plattsburgh, featuring four points from both Morris and Welch, put the Cardinals ahead 16-11 with 10:01 to go in the first half. The Cardinals continued to hold on to the lead, but Skidmore kept battling and came within one multiple times until an 8-0 run finally gave the Thoroughbreds a 31-28 lead with 1:17 remaining in the half. However, that lead didn't last long as Plattsburgh responded with back-to-back baskets from Connell Jr. and Welch to end the first half with a 32-31 lead.
The second half began with even play as both teams went basket for basket, resulting in the score being tied seven times until a 4-0 burst courtesy of Gladney and Connell Jr. gave the Cardinals a 53-49 lead with a little over 10 minutes remaining. A quick five points from Skidmore gave the Thoroughbreds a momentary 54-53 lead, before five more lead changes resulted in Plattsburgh holding a 66-58 lead after a 9-0 surge. Down the stretch, Skidmore came within one, but a jumper from Welch, a layup from Hartig, and two free throws from Connell Jr. pushed the Cardinals' lead to 74-67, and Plattsburgh held on for an 80-73 win.
With the win, Plattsburgh State starts its 2025-26 campaign 1-0 and is back in action in its home opener against Norwich on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. Skidmore starts the season 0-1 and next hosts Middlebury on Friday, Nov. 14.
