PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. –
Kendall Arcuri (Staten Island/St. Joseph by the Sea) registered career highs of 27 points and 12 rebounds as Cortland defeated host Plattsburgh, 69-56, in a crucial victory for the Red Dragons in SUNYAC men's basketball play.
Cortland improved to 11-10 overall and 8-6 in SUNYAC play, while Plattsburgh fell to 10-11 overall and 7-7 in the league. The Red Dragons moved into fourth place in the league standings with four games remaining, one half game ahead of Geneseo (8-7) and a full game better than both Plattsburgh and Oneonta (7-7 each). The top six teams qualify for the league playoffs, with the third and fourth-place teams earning the right to host a first-round game. Cortland plays next Friday at second-place Brockport and Saturday at Geneseo.
Arcuri made 9-of-13 shots from the field, with three 3-pointers, and hit all six of his free throws as the Red Dragons finished 13-for-13 from the line. Coincidentally, Cortland was 13-for-13 from the line in a win at Plattsburgh last season. Arcuri scored 19 of his 27 points in the second half.
Aaron Coston (Kerhonkson/Rondout Valley) finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists and
Jaylen Warmack (Utica/Utica Notre Dame) ended with nine points and nine rebounds.
Isaiah Austin (Albany) grabbed a career-high five rebounds, and Arcuri and Coston each blocked two shots.
Willard Anderson Jr. led Plattsburgh with 12 points, followed by Dylan Trombley with 11 and Kevin Tabb with 10. Tabb paced the Cardinals with five assists and Ikechukwu Ezike pulled in five rebounds.
Cortland trailed 27-26 at halftime, and the game was tied 44-44 after two Tabb free throws with 12:15 remaining. The Red Dragons scored 10 of the next 11 points, starting with two Arcuri 3-pointers and, following a Plattsburgh free throw, a Coston 3-point play. Austin's jumper gave Cortland a 55-45 lead with 8:56 left.
The hosts were within six points, 57-51, with just under seven minutes left before Cortland cemented the victory with an 8-0 run over the next three and a half minutes. Arcuri scored six during that stretch. The Red Dragons' lead grew to 17 points before Plattsburgh scored twice in the final 40 seconds.
