Box Score Box Score
NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Despite mounting a furious rally in the final four minutes of regulation, the State University of New York at New Paltz men's basketball team (9-6, 5-4 SUNYAC) was unable to contain SUNY Oswego's post players, as the Lakers (12-3, 8-1 SUNYAC) prevailed, 81-70, over the Hawks in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action Tuesday evening in the Hawk Center.
The loss marked the first SUNYAC defeat at home for the Hawks in 2010-11. New Paltz came into the contest with just one home loss all year, which came at the hands of Keene State College on Nov. 23, 2010.
Despite shooting 33.3 percent (13-of-39) from the floor in the first half, New Paltz stayed with Oswego early, trailing by only five at 22-17 with 8:10 remaining in the stanza. The Lakers, however, slowly increased their advantage and had built up an 11-point lead at the break (42-31).
Oswego was hot for most of the second half and constructed a 20-point lead with a Chad Burridge tip-in with 4:41 to play in the period. The Hawks would go on a 15-1 run, which sophomore guard
Lorenzo Brown (Brooklyn, N.Y.) stoked with two key steals that shifted the momentum in New Paltz's favor. A made layup by freshman guard
Lamard Herron (Westbury, N.Y.) cut the Laker lead to six at 74-68 with 1:04 left to play in regulation. Brian Gebhart, however, went 4-of-4 from the line from that point forward, sealing the victory and extending Oswego's win streak to five.
The Lakers shot 42.6 percent (29-of-68) from the field on the game, while New Paltz shot at a 37.3 percent clip (28-of-75). New Paltz wound up winning the rebounding battle by a 48-44 edge, and both teams took care of the ball, turning it over a combined 22 times.
New Paltz received a 21-point performance from junior guard
Shereef Taylor (Hyde Park, N.Y.), who went 10-of-17 from the floor and 1-of-1 from the line. Sophomore guard/forward
Matt Devine (Manalapan, N.J.) joined him in double figures with 14 points. Taylor paced the team on the glass with eight rebounds, while junior forward/center
Daniel Olsen (Stafford Springs, Conn.) chipped in with seven. Sophomore guard
Nick Taldi (Merrick, N.Y.) dished out four assists coming off the bench, while Herron came up with five steals in reserve duty.
For Oswego, Chad Burridge led the way with 22 points. Hayden Ward notched his second double-double in as many games with 16 points and 14 rebounds, while Chris Gilkes drained 12 points coming off the bench. On the defensive side of the floor, Burridge totaled a game-high four blocks.
New Paltz returns to action on Friday, Jan. 28, when it hosts SUNY Potsdam in a SUNYAC game at 8 p.m.
