CORTLAND, N.Y. – The Cortland men's basketball team clinched a SUNYAC playoff berth and a first-round home game with a 71-45 victory over visiting Fredonia in the regular-season finale for both teams.
Cortland improved to 14-11 and finished in a tie for fourth place with Plattsburgh in the league standings with an 11-7 mark. Due to the Red Dragons sweep of Plattsburgh in the regular season, Cortland will be the fourth seed in the six-team league tournament and will host fifth-seeded Plattsburgh in the first round Tuesday evening (time to be announced). The winner will advance to face regular-season champion Oswego in the semifinals Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Oswego.
Cortland honored seniors
Kareem Lubin (Monroe/Washingtonville),
Danny Linehan (Blauvelt/Tappan Zee) and
Cal Shifflet (Buffalo/Williamsville East) prior to the game on Senior Day, and the trio provided the Red Dragons' first eight points on 3-pointers from Shifflet and Linehan and a layup by Lubin. Cortland held a 12-10 lead with 14 minutes left in the half before going on a 23-5 run over the next eight minutes to take a 20-point lead. Cortland led 41-19 at halftime and by at least 20 points the entire second half.
Kendall Arcuri (Staten Island/St. Joseph by the Sea) led the hosts with 17 points and 11 rebounds. He shot 7-of-10 from the floor.
Jaylen Warmack (Utica/Utica Notre Dame) scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds, Lubin finished with nine points and five boards and
Isaiah Austin (Albany) scored nine points.
Aaron Coston (Kerhonkson/Rondout Valley) added eight points and four assists and Linehan totaled six points and four assists.
Keenan Roberts Jr. was the lone double-figure scorer for Fredonia (7-18, 4-14 SUNYAC) with 10 points. Alon Haimovitz scored eight points and Tyrese Fuller finished with seven points and seven rebounds. Malik Jemison added four assists.
