CORTLAND, NY – “When we first came together as a team in August, we made a promise to ourselves: we were going to win our conference, and nothing was going to stand in our way.”
And they kept that promise.
Sophomore forward Frank DeStefano reflects on the monumental end of the Cortland’s Men’s Basketball season. Despite falling short in the NCAA playoffs, 2025 marked an amazing run for the Red Dragons.
“There’s no better feeling than setting a goal, pouring everything you have into it day after day, and finally seeing all that hard work pay off,” said DeStefano
Cortland took home the SUNYAC championship on Saturday, March 1st, against top seeded New Paltz. The game ended with a score of 61-52, securing the Red Dragons an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament.
Photo from D3hoops
Tournament MVP Kendall Arcuri (Staten Island/St. Joseph by-the-Sea) led Cortland with 16 points and 12 rebounds, scoring 12 points in the second half. He averaged 17 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in three playoff contests.
Joel Davis (Watertown) added 11 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks while hitting 3-of-4 three-pointers. He finished the tournament with a total of 34 points and 32 rebounds.
Kendrick Wilson (Wheatley Heights/Moravian Prep (NC)) contributed 14 points and three assists, shooting 6-of-11 from the floor and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc.
Aaron Coston (Kerhonkson/Rondout Valley) chipped in nine points and two blocks, while Gerrad Beaubrun (Baldwin) shared the team lead with three assists.
“Their goal is to compete at the highest level and win it all, and their hard work is evident,” said team manager Anthony Dinnocenzio.
Following that explosive victory, the team headed to York College for the opening round of the Division III tournament.
“Last season didn’t end the way we had hoped after falling short in the semifinals,” said DeStefano. “That feeling of disappointment stayed with us, and it became the fuel that drove us.”
With it being the first NCAA appearance since 2016, the Red Dragons showed up hungry.
But on Friday, March 7, they were defeated by nationally second-ranked New York University, effectively ending the season. They lost 72-36, ending Cortland’s run with a record of 17-12.
Aaron Coston (Kerhonkson/Rondout Valley) led Cortland with 12 points and six rebounds.
Jaylen Warmack (Utica/Utica Notre Dame), the Red Dragons’ lone senior, contributed nine points and three rebounds.
Tournament MVP Kendall Arcuri (Staten Island/St. Joseph by-the-Sea) added six points and four rebounds.
“A true champion is not defined by wins and losses, but by the ability to rise after every loss and keep fighting,” said senior guard Jaylen Warmack.
Despite the tough loss, Cortland’s season was defined by resilience and dedication, capped off by a hard-earned SUNYAC championship. The Red Dragons strength in the face of adversity will fuel their drive as they look to carry this momentum into the next season, with hopes higher than ever.