Box Score PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. -- The Plattsburgh State University men's basketball team outscored Eastern Connecticut State University 18-6 over nine minutes in the second half to turn a three-point deficit into a nine-point lead with four minutes left and eliminat the Warriors, 70-60, in the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament at memorial Gymnasium.
At right: Kevin Leumene provided the Warriors with a spark off the bench in both NCAA games, connecting on a combined ten of 16 field goals.
With its 12th home win in 13 games this year, Plattsburgh (24-5) advances to the NCAA Round of 16 against Amherst College, which defeated York College (NY), 63-51. Eastern (23-7) had defeated Husson University, 81-75 in Friday night's first round .
Sophomore guard Trachone Preston's (Enfield) fallaway jumper with 12:40 left had given Eastern a 46-43 lead against the Cardinals Saturday before the hosts took control. Mike Mitchell sank a three-point field goal to tie the game, Ezra Hodgson
Followed with another three-pointer that gave Plattsburgh the lead for good, and Xavier Thomas was fouled dunking an inbound pass, then converted the free throw to make it 52-46 with 10:30 left.
After the Warriors cut the deficit to two on baskets from sophomore guard Kevin Leumene (Stamford) and a jumper by Preston off an offensive rebound from freshman forward Hugh Lindo (Enfield), the Cards put together a decisive 9-2 run to move out to a nine-point, 61-52 lead with just under four minutes left. Shamoy McIntosh was credited with the final seven points in that nine-point spurt on a three-point field goal, two free throws and a two-point field goal.
Lindo followed up Friday's nine point, 23-rebound effort with ten points and 20 rebounds against Plattsburgh, with Preston and Leumene finishing with 14 each and senior forward Mike Garrow (Terryville) 13. Garrow and senior guard Brian Salzillo (North Haven), the team's top two season scorers, managed just 8-of-30 from the floor which included 1-of-13 from three-point range.
Senior guard John Perez led Plattsburgh with 21 points and nine rebounds, McIntosh finishing with 14 (7-of-10 from the foul line) and Mitchell 11.
