Men’s Basketball Flies By Plattsburgh State, 86-72

Box Score

CHICOPEE, Mass. – Elms College senior point guard Juan Maldonado (Holyoke, Mass.) dropped in a game-high 18 points and is now the Blazers’ all-time leading scorer with 1,179 career points as Elms topped Plattsburgh State, 86-72 in the 2009-10 men’s basketball season opener on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at Picknelly Arena.

With the win, Elms moves to 1-0 on the season, while Plattsburgh State falls to 1-1 overall.

Maldonado passed Kyle Seyboth’s previous program-record of 1,175 career points which he set from 2001-2005.

After Elms opened up the game on a 5-0 run behind a three-pointer and a field goal from sophomore guard Bryant Corcoran (Wolcott, Conn.), Plattsburgh State answered with five straight points of their own to knot the game at 5-5. The Cardinals then scored seven of the next 11 points to post a 12-9 lead before a three-pointer from junior Robert Hargrove (Detroit, Mich.) evened the contest at 12-12. The Cardinals would not lead again in the game.

Corcoran scored all 17 of his points in the first half, connecting on 7 of 10 shots from the floor and 3 of 5 from beyond the arc to pace the Blazers to a 45-35 advantage at the break. Maldonado added nine of his 18 points in the first period.

Maldonado set the tone for the second half, downing a trey in the opening minute of the period. A bucket by senior forward Javon Mathis (East Hartford, Conn.) and a jumper by freshman guard Brittain Purcelle (Tarrytown, N.Y.) extended the lead to 54-35.

Plattsburgh State pulled to within 12 at 58-46 behind a pair baskets by Steve Thomas (Plattsburgh, N.Y.), and one each from Errol Daniyan (Coram, N.Y.) and Carl Munnerlyn (Brooklyn, N.Y.) before Elms erupted with a 13-2 run over the next 5:11 to notch a 23-point cushion at 71-48. Senior forward Antoine Holder (Hartford, Conn.) scored on a fast-break dunk and added a layup, Maldonado struck gold on a three-pointer, and junior Edgar Martinez (Springfield, Mass.) added his only basket of the night. Mathis capped the scoring run with a strong basket in the paint with 8:40 remaining in the half.

The Cardinals narrowed its deficit to 14 points at 78-64 but would get no closer than that, as the sides traded four baskets over the final 3:47 to help the Blazers secure the 14-point victory.

Four of Elms’ five starters reached double-digits in points as Corcoran and Mathis finished with 17 each behind Maldonado’s 18. Purcelle netted 11 points in the winning effort, while Hargrove finished with nine.

Elms out-rebounded Plattsburgh State 44-40 led by Mathis’ eight. The Blazers were also a sizzling 8 of 15 from beyond the arc Maldonado and Corcoran connected on three apiece.

Maldonado captained Elms' offensive attack, dishing out six assists, while Corcoran and Mathis followed with four each.

Thomas and Daniyan paced the Cardinals’ effort with 16 points each, while Thomas led all rebounders with 11. Munnerlyn finished with nine points in the loss.

Elms returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 21 when it hosts Arcadia University in the first game of the Blazers Tip-Off Tournament. Game time is set for 6:00 p.m. at Picknelly Arena.