NEW PALTZ, NY — Plattsburgh junior guard Curtis Smith (Brooklyn, NY) scored 23 points and had 10 rebounds and seven assists to lead the Cardinals to a 78-66 win over SUNY New Paltz this evening at Elting Gym.
Leading 38-36 at the break, the Cardinals outscored New Paltz 17-10 over the first eight minutes of the second half to build a 55-46 advantage. Plattsburgh (10-9, 4-6) junior guard Johnnie Carter (Brooklyn, NY), who also registered 23 points, pushed the lead to double figures when he scored with 7:40 to play to make it 63-51.
New Paltz (5-14, 3-9) chipped the deficit down to seven when senior guard Jayvard Smith (Hempstead, NY) hit a three-pointer at the 5:18 mark to make it 67-60. The Hawks however went scoreless for the next four minutes while Plattsburgh built its lead back to double figures.
In a first half that went back-and-forth, New Paltz opened up a 24-17 lead on a three-point play by freshman forward Amseshem Foluke-Henderson (Jamaica, NY). From there, Plattsburgh State scored eight of the next nine points to pull even at 25 with 8:25 left in the half. Plattsburgh then erased a 33-29 deficit and outscored New Paltz 9-3 in the final 5:13 to take a two-point lead at the break.
Foluke-Henderson led the Hawks with 20 points, five rebounds and three assists. Senior guard Matt Daudier (S. Floral Park, NY) added 19 points and was 5-of-9 from three-point range.
Plattsburgh enjoyed a 42-27 advantage on the glass and shot 53 percent for the game. Junior forward Cameron Arterberry (Rochester, NY) came off the bench to score 14 points for the Cardinals.
