PURCHASE, N.Y.— The York College men's basketball team used strong defense and a balanced offensive attack to salvage the consolation game of the A.J. Buchanan Classic on Saturday afternoon. The Cardinals won 83-75 over Southern Virginia University.
 
Playing on a neutral site at Manhattanville College, York forced a season-high 27 turnovers, which they converted into 27 points.  On offense, senior Rashaan Bailey led a group of four players who reached double digits in points, scoring a career-high 26.  Freshman Ryan Smart added 17 points, eight rebounds and two steals. Senior Anthony Mason followed up his big game last night with another solid effort (10 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals) and junior Sasha Clarida was the catalyst on defense, forcing five steals while chipping in 13 points.
 
York never trailed in the game, scoring the first six points of the contest and held a comfortable lead for most of the evening.  The closest Southern Virginia came was 14-13 with 11:34 left in the opening half.  However, York quickly extended its lead back to five with a pair of free throws and a Julian Jones lay-up on two straight possessions.  They would close the half with an eight-point advantage.
 
In the second half, York pushed its lead to as many as 16 points, following buckets from Bailey, Smart and Mason to make it 66-50 with 2:59 to go.   Southern Virginia made it a little interesting at the end, briefly closing to within six points with under a minute to go.  However, the Cardinals iced the game with their free throw shooting.
 
York is now 2-3 on the season, while SVU is 0-4.  The Cardinals return to action on Tuesday with their CUNYAC opener vs. Medgar Evers College. Tip-off at the York College Gymnasium is set for 8 p.m.