(BOX SCORE)

BUFFALO, NY—Chris Cartwright (Binghamton/Binghamton) scored 19 points, including 15 in the first half, to pace Buffalo State (4-0/1-0) to an 83-74 victory over visiting Cortland (2-3/0-1) in the SUNYAC season-opener tonight at the Sports Arena.

All 15 of Cartwright's first-half points came from beyond the 3-point arc. #T.O. Jackson# (Bronx/Bronx Regional) tallied 17 points off the bench in his first action of the season, returning from injury. Justin Mitchell (Buffalo/Timon) added 13 points and seven rebounds, and Jake Simmons (Rochester/School for the Arts) and Glenroy Carr (New York/Sweet Home) netted 11 points each.

After several early lead changes, Buffalo State took a 44-40 lead into the intermission and never trailed again. The Bengals pulled ahead by as many as 10 before Cortland battled back to cut the deficit 77-74 with 38 second remaining. Buffalo State scored the final six points of the game, however, to close out the win and remain unbeaten. Buffalo State overcame a 45-36 rebounding deficit by committing just seven turnovers and forcing 17 Cortland miscues.

Buffalo State will play at home again tomorrow against Oswego at 4 p.m.