PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - The Oneonta men's basketball team dropped an 84-74 decision to Plattsburgh on Saturday afternoon to close the regular season. Despite the loss, the Red Dragons (12-13, 9-9 SUNYAC) clinch the sixth seed in the SUNYAC Tournament, while the Cardinals (14-11, 11-7 SUNYAC) are the fifth seed. 

"We didn't get the results we wanted tonight. They jumped on us early, but our guys fought back and got in the game," said head coach Cameron Conover. "Plattsburgh made a few more plays down the stretch, and you have to give them credit. However, we returned to the locker room and found out we clinched a playoff spot."

Plattsburgh hit four straight three-pointers to start the first half and took a 12-5 lead within the first four minutes. Layups from Tim Thomas and Willard Anderson, Jr. pushed the Cardinals ahead by 12 points. Two Dylan Trombley and Darren Wright jumpers extended the Plattsburgh advantage to 21-5. 

Oneonta played from behind until junior Caleb Brown (Brooklyn, NY/Uncommon Charter) hit a layup at 7:43 to start a 7-0 run that brought the score within eight points. Jeremiah Smith drained a triple at 5:53 to put the Cardinals up by 11. A pair of free throws from junior Xavier Hill (Johnson City, NY/Johnson City) cut the lead to single digits as Oneonta rattled off a 7-0 span to make it 35-31. Sophomore Elijah Castillo (Bronx, NY/St. Raymonds) hit a buzzer-beating jumper to make it 39-35 at the half. 

The Red Dragons made it a one-point game following a Hill layup at 14:35. Oneonta remained within striking distance until a 7-0 Plattsburgh run put the Cardinals ahead 59-49. Plattsburgh continued to build its lead, going up by as much as 15 points. Freshman Daniel Penubothula (Valley Stream, NY/Valley Stream Central) and Castillo scored inside to make it 74-67, and a layup from senior Graham Wooden (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta) cut the lead to six points with 1:39 left. Castillo knocked down a three-pointer at 1:01 to make it 77-72, but the Cardinals made their free throws down the stretch. 

Castillo led Oneonta with 21 points, while Hill scored 20 with nine rebounds. Wooden finished with 13 points and eight rebounds. Penubothula grabbed a team-high 11 boards. 

Kevin Tabb topped Plattsburgh with 22 points and eight rebounds, while Smith had 13 points. 

"We are thrilled to continue playing, and our first goal is always to make the playoffs, and we accomplished that."

Oneonta travels to face Brockport in the first round of the SUNYAC Tournament on Tue. Feb. 20 at 7:30 p.m.