FREDONIA, N.Y. -- The Fredonia State men's basketball team earned its first victory of the season and the first for head coach Sean Smiley with a 76-72 victory over SUNYAC foe Plattsburgh on Tuesday. Kreem George (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Brooklyn Collegiate) and Jackson Brown (Latham, N.Y. / Catholic Central) stepped up with strong second halves and clutch performances to aid in the victory. George finished with 19 points and Brown had 18.

George hit three big three pointers early in the second half, and Brown went 9-11 from the line, many of them late in the game.

The Devils opened the second half down six, 33-27, when back-to-back threes by George tied the game. In addition to his 19 points, George grabbed eight boards and went 6-8 from the free-throw line.

Later, with the game tied at 39-all after a free throw by George and 15 minutes left to play, Alon Kremerman (Tel Aviv, Israel / Harishonim) nailed a three before Plattsburgh's Kevin Tabb responded with a three of his own.  George then connected for his third three of the half, making it 45-42, Fredonia State. Another three by Tabb tied the game.

Malik Jemison (Buffalo, N.Y. / Canisius) then converted a layup and back-to-back threes by Brown put the Devils up, 53-45.

The Devils led by as many as 10 before the Cardinals clawed back into the game. A layup by Plattsburgh's Erik Salo put the Cardinals up, 66-55, with 2:42 to play. 

A pair of free throws and a layup by Fredonia State freshman Aaron Collins (Erie / Erie First Christian Academy) on the two ensuing possessions gave the lead back to the Devils for good. Collins would finish with 10 points.

Brown and George would combine to go 7-8 from the line over the final two minutes to seal the win.

Kremerman finished with nine points and eight rebounds, and Jemison had nine points and six assists.

The Cardinals had four players in double digits. Tabb had 22 points and Salo had 19.

The Devils won the battle on the boards, 46-38, and went 20-26 (77 percent) from the line, while Plattsburgh hit 17-30 (57 percent). Plattsburgh falls to 1-12 overall and 0-6 in the conference.

The Devils (1-13,1-6 SUNYAC) are back in action at Noon on Wednesday when they play host to Potsdam at 2 p.m.