FREDONIA, N.Y. -- After allowing the Plattsburgh Cardinals to get off to a 15-2 lead from the opening tip, the Fredonia men's basketball team could not recover, falling by nine points, 84-75, on Saturday. Four Devils scored in double digits, led by Dante Williams' (Buffalo, N.Y. / Hutch Tech) double-double, with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Ian Helps (Bronx, N.Y. / Greater New York Academy) added 14 points and nine boards and Justin Tapper (White Plains, N.Y. / White Plains) had 12 and seven. Kay Jackson (Ridgewood, N.Y. / Grover Cleveland) ended with 11 points and three assists.

After the opening run, the Devils bounced back with the next six points with baskets by Helps and Williams, and a pair of free throws by Tapper.

Plattsburgh stormed back with nine straight of their own, and 13 of the next 15 points to take its biggest lead of the half of 17 points, leading 28-11. The Cardinals closed the half leading 44-28.

Fredonia was slowed by eight of 31 shooting (26 percent) from the floor. Plattsburgh was 16 of 35 (46 percent).

Plattsburgh would lead by as many as 19 on three different occasions in the second half, the last coming at the 9:46 mark after a pair of free throws by Eli Bryant to make it a 65-46 game.

Fredonia then rattled off the next nine points. Williams hit a short jumper, nailed a pair of free throws, and then a three pointer before Jonathan McDonald (Brooklyn, N.Y. / High School for Public Service) capped the run on a layup as the Devils moved within 10 points, 65-55.

Fredonia got the lead down to seven in the closing seconds when Jackson's layup made it an 82-75 game. Plattsburgh finished the game with a pair of free throws from Bryant to end the scoring.

Bryant would lead all scorers with 27 points. Jonathan Patron added 23, and Eric Mack had 16 off the bench as the Cardinals improved to 7-4 overall and 5-1 in the SUNYAC.

The Devils outscored Plattsburgh 47-40 in the second half. Williams scored 15 of his 19 points in the second half.

A total of 52 fouls were committed in the contest. Fredonia committed 28, and would go 18 of 23 (78 percent) from the line. The Cardinals committed 24 and went to the line 39 times, connecting on 26 attempts (67 percent). Plattsburgh out-rebounded the Devils, 48-44.

Fredonia (2-10, 0-6 SUNYAC) travels to Geneseo on Tuesday.