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February 10, 2012

Cards can clinch playoff spot tonight

KEITH KANE Press-Republican

PLATTSBURGH — The young Plattsburgh State men's basketball team has gone through a lot this season and learned a lot.

The season may not have gone the way the Cardinals (7-14, 5-9 SUNYAC) wanted, but in their past six games they have played the top teams in the SUNY Athletic Conference and the No. 1 team in the country, and played them all tough.

At the start of the season Plattsburgh's lone goal was to get to the SUNYAC playoffs, and believe it or not, with a win tonight at Potsdam the Cardinals will clinch a spot in the tournament.

"A lot is at stake for both teams," Plattsburgh coach Tom Curle said. "(Potsdam) has to win all four of their games, but if we win this one we're in and they're out.

"There is a lot to play for."

Plattsburgh is currently tied with New Paltz for seventh in the conference standings. The top eight teams make the playoffs, and Potsdam is three games behind in ninth place.

The Bears (4-17, 2-12) have been in a similar situation as the Cardinals in that they have been in most of their games in the second half of the season. But they've yet to pick up a win and are currently riding a 12-game losing streak.

Potsdam lost to offensively dominant Buffalo State by just nine points in its last outing.

"You saw what Buffalo State did to us," Curle said. "They went there, and Potsdam had the lead for most of the game.

"They're a good team, but they are just struggling to find wins like us. But they have been in a lot of their games. They're figuring things out, and what's scary is that they are scoring a lot more."

In their first matchup, the Cardinals defeated the Bears, 71-54, in Plattsburgh.

Plattsburgh had a balanced attack with four players hitting in double figures, led by John Perez and Shamoy McIntosh, who each scored 16 points. Reggie Williams finished with 12, and Josh Bruno added 11.

Potsdam, meanwhile, received most of its scoring from Peru native Rob Duquette. He finished with a game-high 23 points while shooting 10-of-17 from the field. The next highest player on the Bears had eight points.

"Duquette is a strong kid," Curle said. "It's sort of a pick your poison. Last time we tried to take away their shooters and Duquette hurt us on the inside.

"They are going to throw a lot of 1-2-2 zone against us. We will have to get good ball movement and pick our spots. If we don't move the ball with a purpose, then they become real effective."

With a win tonight the Cardinals will have reached their first goal of the season, and will then do their best to maneuver their position in the playoffs.

"It has been our goal since the beginning of the year," Curle said. "Once we are in we'll worry about our seeding.

"But first we have to get in, and that can happen tonight."

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