POTSDAM, N.Y. – Junior Brian Manning (Elmira/Southside) scored a career-high 28 points as Cortland posted a 58-50 SUNYAC victory at Potsdam. The Red Dragons improved to 13-5 overall and  8-3 in the conference. Cortland maintained a half-game lead over Buffalo State for second place in the league standings.

Manning was Cortland's lone double figure scorer. He came off the bench to hit 11-of-15 shots from the field, including 4-of-7 three-pointers. Sophomore Kevin McMahon (Hoosick Falls) finished with nine points and a team-high eight rebounds, junior Jeremy Smith (Bronx/Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy) handed out four assists and junior Dan Sternkopf (Washingtonville) recorded six points, five rebounds and three blocked shots.

Potsdam (4-13, 2-8 SUNYAC) was led by Curtis Pierce's 16 points, 17 rebounds and three assists. He connected on 7-of-15 shots. Zac Adams scored 10 points and added six rebounds and three assists.

Manning scored 15 points in the first half and made three of his three-pointers in the period. Cortland led 29-28 at intermission. Manning then scored 10 points during a 12-4 Red Dragon run to start the second half and Cortland led 41-32 with 15:05 remaining.

Potsdam drew within 43-40 on a Pierce jumper with 12:35 left, but Cortland eventually re-established a nine-point lead at 53-44 on two Manning free throws with 5:24 remaining. Two Pierce baskets cut the Cortland advantage to four with 3:17 left, but neither team scored over the next two minutes. A Jesse Winter (Rockville Centre/South Side) foul shot at the 1:17 mark and two Smith free throws with 1:01 left gave Cortland a 56-48 lead.

Cortland shot 39 percent overall and 23 percent from three-point range, while Potsdam was held to 36 percent from the floor and only 15 percent (3-of-20) from long distance.

Cortland will play at Plattsburgh Saturday at 4 p.m.

Box Score/Play-by-Play