News Release

UTICA, N.Y. -- — Brian Hatch led all scorers with 21 points, tournament MVP Kris Gibbs-Smith had 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, and Travis Gorham recorded a double-double with 10 points and game-high 14 rebounds, as Plattsburgh State captured the State University of New York Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Championship Tournament crown with a 94-73 win Saturday over SUNYIT at the Memorial Auditorium.

"This was a great tournament for us. We knew we had the talent to win it," Plattsburgh coach Tom Curle said after the game on TEAMLINE Sports Radio. "Eight quality teams started in what we felt was a wide-open tournament, and we were fortunate that we were the team that got hot last."

This marks the Cardinals' first SUNYAC championship since 1979 when they shared it with Albany and Potsdam and first outright title since 1976. Plattsburgh (18-10), which has won three straight and is 10-3 in its last 13 starts, earns the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The 59-team NCAA field will be unveiled Sunday night and pairings Monday morning. SUNYIT ends its season at 16-11.

"We told the kids before the game that players determine championships," said Curle. "They played with confidence and hit shots. They deserve all the credit."

The Wildcats had five scorers in double figures including Chris Laboard with 14 points, Chris Reaves had 13, Chris Plante 11, and Elvis Belone and Antoine Gilkes 10 apiece. Laboard completed a double-double with team-high 10 rebounds. But as a team, SUNYIT shot 34.2 percent from the field (26-76) and was outrebounded 51-35.

Plattsburgh took a 47-36 halftime lead thanks to making 20 of 31 field goals for a 64.5 percentage. The Cardinals finished with a 55.7 clip (34-61). Plattsburgh led the game for all but 54 seconds and by as many as 30 points in the second half.

Plattsburgh, the sixth seed in the tournament, defeated three higher-seeded teams -- No. 3 Brockport, No. 2 Oswego and No. 4 SUNYIT -- to earn its first NCAA tournament appearance since 1995.

"This conference tournament title means a lot because I'm a Plattsburgh alum. I've won junior college titles as a coach...but this hits home," said Curle. "Now we look forward to representing the University and SUNYAC well in the NCAAs. We're going to play like champions."

Anthony Williams, who netted 17 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished six assists, joined Gibbs-Smith and Gorham as Plattsburgh representatives on the All-SUNYAC Tournament Team. SUNYIT's Reaves and Laboard as well as Rod Headley were also named.