PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Following a second straight trip to the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) tournament semifinals, the Plattsburgh State men's basketball team looks to take the next step this season and reach the SUNYAC Championship game for the first time since 2018. The Cardinals open their 2026-27 campaign at home on Friday, Nov. 7, welcoming Skidmore for a 7 p.m. tip-off.

2025-26 CARDINAL SNAPSHOT:
Record: 13-13 (9-9 SUNYAC)

The Cardinals finished the 2025-26 season 13-13 overall and 9-9 in conference play, advancing to the SUNYAC tournament. Plattsburgh opened postseason action on the road, upsetting the fourth-seeded New Paltz Hawks, 97-88, in overtime. The Cardinals then advanced to their second straight semifinal, falling to defending conference champion Cortland.

Head coach Mike Blaine enters his eighth season at the helm of the Cardinals and looks to lead the team to its first conference championship game appearance under his direction while extending its streak of conference tournament appearances to four straight seasons.

Coach's Insights:
"We are excited to begin the 2026-2027 season and face a multitude of challenges ahead of us, both in and out of conference. Our returners are motivated to take another step forward in our growth, and a large class of newcomers is eager to contribute to the program's success," said Blaine. "This year's non-conference opponents might be the most difficult we have had during my time in Plattsburgh, but we will use these opportunities to help us grow together as we strive to play our best basketball at the end of the season in pursuit of a SUNYAC Championship."

Team Outlook:
Plattsburgh's roster will feature a mix of returning players and newcomers, including four transfers. After losing SUNYAC Player of the Year Reem Welch, who earned NABC Division III All-America Third Team and D3hoops.com All-America Fifth Team honors at the conclusion of the season, the Cardinals will need to replace the production of their leading scorer.

The Cardinals return just six players to a revamped 16-player roster that includes 10 newcomers. The returning group is headlined by its top two returning scoring threats, senior guard Elijah Morris (Mount Vernon, N.Y./Mount Vernon) and junior guard Jaiden Gladney (Charlestown, W. Va./Jefferson), who finished second and third on the team in points per game (PPG) last season. Both will look to take on larger roles as Plattsburgh works to replace Welch's offensive production.

While Morris and Gladney lead the returning scorers, junior transfer guard Jahdeuir Reese (Syracuse, N.Y./Liverpool) is primed to make an immediate impact, bringing valuable SUNYAC experience after averaging 13.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per game (RPG) at Canton last season.

Inside the Nest:
Guards
The Cardinals backcourt will bring back some experience with the pairing of Morris and Gladney, who were second and third in scoring. Morris averaged 12.9 PPG, while Gladney was right behind him with 11.2 PPG. Morris showcased his ability to pass the ball last season as well, ranking second on the team in assists per game (APG) with 3.6.

Graduate student AJ Williams Jr. (Brooklyn, N.Y./Paul Robeson) is the only other returning guard for Plattsburgh and will be joined by Reese and junior transfer Kye Usher (Los Angeles, Calif./Junipero Serra). Usher joins the Cardinals after most recently averaging 11.5 PPG and 3.8 RPG at Los Angeles City College in 2025-26.

The Cardinals' guard-heavy lineup will be rounded out by first-years Roy Duran (Manhattan, N.Y./Seward Park), Casey Dyches (Oxon Hill, Md./Potomac), Dev James (Bronx, N.Y./Earl Monroe New Renaissance), Bryce Long (Rochester, N.Y./Julius L. Chambers), and Kyler Stevenson (Corning, N.Y./Corning Painted Post), who will add depth and versatility to the backcourt.

Wings
On the wings, the Cardinals will receive two-way support from senior David McKnight Jr. (South Orange, N.J./Columbia) and junior Nate Pondexter Jr. (Washington, D.C./Archbishop Carroll). McKnight appeared in 25 of 26 games for the Cardinals last season, averaging 5.6 points per game and recording 12 blocks, and will look to remain a key contributor in the wing rotation.

Pondexter Jr. did not see game action last season but is coming off a strong first-year campaign in which he appeared in all 27 games, contributing on both ends of the floor with his scoring and rebounding.

Frontcourt
The lone returning player in the frontcourt, senior Wol Machteng (Utica, N.Y./Utica Academy of Science), will look to compete for a role inside after appearing in 17 games during his first season with the Cardinals, though he did not see game action last season.

He will be joined by junior transfer EJ Johnson (Fallsburg, N.Y./Fallsburg) and senior transfer Ibrahim Wally (Brooklyn, N.Y./East New York Family Academy). Johnson most recently played at Canton, where he averaged 6.2 PPG and 4.7 RPG. Wally also brings SUNYAC experience after playing two seasons at Oneonta.

The experienced frontcourt players will look to compete for starting roles, bringing valuable collegiate experience to the lineup.

First-year Isaiah Smith (Oxon Hill, Md./Oxon Hill) also joins the Cardinals' frontcourt and will look to make an impact as he begins his collegiate career.