PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - Jonathan Patron and Eli Bryant combined for 41 points to lead the Plattsburgh State men's basketball team to a 92-73 win over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), on Sunday night at Memorial Hall. With the win, the Cardinals improve to 3-0, while the Engineers drop to 2-1.

The hosts shot 56.9% from the floor, including 59.4% in the first half to take a 49-41 lead after 20 minutes. Patron led Plattsburgh with 11 points on 4 of 7 shooting in the opening frame. Bryant was right behind with 10 points. RPI senior Brian Hatcher recorded 17 of his career-best 25 points in the first half, shooting 7 of 8 from the floor, including 2 of 2 from three-point range.

Both teams saw marginal lead in the first half, including an eight-point advantage for RPI (32-24) at the midway point of the frame, which turned to be its largest of the game. Plattsburgh battled back to recapture the lead, 34-33, with 6:38 remaining in the half. A lay-up by Chris Middleton closed out the half with the eight point edge.

In the second half, the Engineers went cold from the floor, connecting on just 35.5% of their attempts. They were just 2 for 13 from distance and 8 of 16 from the line. The Cardinals stayed hot, shooting over 54%. 

Plattsburgh's lead grew to 15 points (60-45), just 3:30 into the second, on a three-pointer from Patron. Jonathan Luster cut the deficit to single digits (62-53) two minutes later, but a 9-2 run from the Cardinals pushed the advantage back to 16 (71-55) with 12 minutes to play.

The hosts lead grew to as high as 20 points (82-62), with six minutes remaining. Rensselaer closed the gap to 14 three minutes later, but the Cardinals got to the rim on back-to-back possessions to put the put the game away.

Plattsburgh owned a 50-30 edge in points in the paint and out-scored the RPI bench, 22-14. The Cardinals also held a sizable 46-27 advantage in rebounds.

Horvat, who netted 12 points and Hatcher were named the Cardinals Classic All-Tournament Team.

Rensselaer is back in action on Tuesday, when it hosts Sage College (8pm). Plattsburgh visits St. Lawrence on November 29 (8pm).