NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Fresh off a scintillating 66-64 victory over SUNY Potsdam on Saturday afternoon, the State University of New York at New Paltz men's basketball team looks to sweep the season series against SUNY Oswego when the Hawks host the Lakers in a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) game on Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 8 p.m. at the Hawk Center.
LIVE COVERAGE: The New Paltz Athletics Communications Office will provide live stats and video the above links.
RECORDS: New Paltz enters Tuesday's game with a 6-8, 3-4 SUNYAC record… Oswego owns a 10-5, 4-4 record.
SCOUTING THE HAWKS (6-8, 3-4 SUNYAC): The Hawks split their SUNYAC games on Friday and Saturday against SUNY Plattsburgh and Potsdam… The Potsdam contest was particularly riveting as the Bears fought back from a 14-point second half deficit to come within 65-64 with 43 seconds to play… The Hawks made several key plays down the stretch, among those being a crucial inside layup from junior guard/forward
Taylor Sowah for a 64-60 lead with 2:51 remaining and a single Sowah free throw that kept the Hawks ahead 65-62 with 1:58 to play... In the final 43 seconds of play, Sowah saved a ball destined for out-of-bounds to help the Hawks retain possession, and Potsdam's last second shot bounced off the backboard, preserving the New Paltz victory... Graduate student guard
Nick Taldi had a masterful game with 15 points, followed by Sowah with 14 points… Freshman forward
Andrew Seniuk tallied nine of his 11 points in the first half.
STATISTICAL LEADERS: Sowah leads the Hawks in scoring (15.2 ppg), which is 11th best in the SUNYAC… Sowah has scored in double figures in every game but two this season and has scored in double figures in seven straight games, which includes a career-high 26 points against Buffalo State… Sowah is 10th in the SUNYAC in field goal percentage (47 percent)… Following 15 points against Potsdam and 13 versus Plattsburgh, Taldi has moved his scoring average into double figures (10.3 ppg)… Taldi's 42 percent three-point mark is third best in the SUNYAC… Senior guard
Andrew Joseph leads the team in rebounding (6.4 rpg), which is ninth best in a strong rebounding conference… Joseph owns the SUNYAC's fourth-best assist mark (4.0 apg).
TEAM STATISTICS: The Hawks are holding their opponents to 75.9 points per game, which is the seventh-best average in the SUNYAC… Opponents shoot just 32.5 percent from three-point distance, fourth lowest in the conference…The Hawks rank fourth in the SUNYAC in free-throw percentage (70 percent)… New Paltz averages 7.1 three-pointers per game, fifth in the SUNYAC.
SCOUTING THE LAKERS (10-5, 4-4 SUNYAC): The Lakers are in the midst of a three-game losing streak, having been beaten by New Paltz (83-75), The College at Brockport (78-64) and SUNY Geneseo (66-62) in their last three games… Prior to New Paltz's victory last Tuesday, Oswego has won each of the past 20 meetings against the Hawks… Previous to their losing streak, the Lakers had won nine of their last 10 games, the only blemish in that streak being a 75-69 loss to SUNY Oneonta on Jan. 7.
STATISTICAL LEADERS: Three Laker players average in double figures, led by senior guard Daniel Ross (18.1 ppg), freshman guard Brian Sortino (15.7 ppg) and junior forward Rashawn Powell (12.2 ppg)… Ross is the seventh best scorer in the SUNYAC… Powell leads the team in rebounding (9.2 rpg), fourth best in the SUNYAC… Sortino leads in assists (3.1 apg).
TEAM STATISTICS: In SUNYAC numbers, Oswego has the third best defense, allowing 66.9 ppg... The Lakers score at a 74.4 ppg clip, sixth best in the SUNYAC.
LAST MEETING: With an 83-75 victory on Jan. 14, the Hawks snapped a 20-game losing streak against Oswego.
GAME RECAP:
Jan. 14, 2014 WHAT'S NEXT: The Hawks remain home for SUNYAC play this Friday and Saturday against Geneseo at 8 p.m. on Friday and Brockport at 4 p.m. on Saturday… Oswego travels to Geneseo for an 8 p.m. game next Tuesday, Jan. 28, giving the Lakers a rare weekend off from competition.
COACHES: New Paltz is guided by third-year head coach
Mike Rejniak, while Oswego is mentored by third-year head coach Jason Leone.
