CORTLAND - Junior Kevin Mackin (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) scored a collegiate best 30 points tonight to lead the SUNY Oneonta Red Dragons to an 85-70 victory against its rival Red Dragons of SUNY Cortland.  The victory for Oneonta was a huge lift in the SUNYAC standings evening them back to 9-9 overall and 4-7 in conference play, as they continue to battle for a playoff spot with seven games remaining in the regular season.  The loss for Cortland dropped them to 14-5 overall and 8-4 in conference play.
 
"We came ready to play tonight," stated Head Coach Cameron Conover.  "We told our players to focus on the controllables.  Our players were enthusiastic, passionate, played with emotion and played for each other."
 
Mackin led a game-opening 19-2 run scoring 13 points, as Oneonta never gave Cortland a chance to even get into the game.  Mackin finished the game with six, three-pointers, tying his season high.
 
Oneonta continued to pour it on in the first half of play shooting nearly 56 percent and building a 48-30 lead heading into the break.  Junior Ian Schultz (Clifton Park, NY/CBA) already recorded a double double with 11 points and 10 boards.  Schultz led all rebounders in tonight's game with a collegiate best 13.  As a team, Oneonta outrebounded Cortland 45-28.
 
By the time six minutes passed in the second half, Oneonta built its lead to a game high 25 points.  They just cruised from there never being challenged the rest of the way.
 
Mackin was one of four players that scored in double figures tonight.  Sophomore Joseph Bull (Bronx, NY/Mount St. Michael Academy) scored 16 points while Schultz and Harrison Deegan (Putnam Valley, NY/Putnam Valley) added 15 points and 13 points respectively.
 
Zach Lydon led Cortland with 18 points, 16 in the first half. He made four 3-pointers. Nicky Bonura totaled 14 points and a career-high six assists, while Kenny Charles and Justin Cooper each scored 10 points. Cooper also finished with nine rebounds and four assists. Ricardo Dominguez added nine points in 18 minutes off the bench.
 
Conover concluded, "I enjoyed watching our men compete tonight.  We will enjoy this win and get back to work tomorrow."
 
Oneonta will be on the road this weekend with games at Geneseo and Brockport.