Box Score Plattsburgh, NY — Through more than 20 minutes Friday, it looked like the visiting State University of New York at New Paltz men's basketball team would walk out of Memorial Gym with an upset victory over No. 13 Plattsburgh State (5-0 overall, 1-0 SUNYAC).
 
The Hawks (2-2, 0-1) took the lead several times throughout the game, but couldn't limit the talented Cardinals who were led by reigning SUNYAC Player of the Year Jonathan Patron (32 points, 20 rebounds, three assists, three blocks, two steals) and despite a valiant effort fell, 85-75.
 
"Overall I was extremely proud of our offense and our fight," said SUNY New Paltz coach Keith Kenney. "We didn't back down from the 13th ranked team in the nation." 
 
The first half was tight, with the score knotted nine different times to go along with eight lead changes. The Hawks shot extremely well from the floor, hitting 47.2 percent with Scott Reisert and Tristan Wissemann leading the way with 10 points each. The Cardinals used their size inside and worked the ball in the paint, resulting in 26 trips to the line, but they couldn't take advantage, knocking down just 11 from the charity stripe within the first 20 minutes.
 
Brandon Scott gave SUNY New Paltz back the lead with about four minutes remaining in the half after his bucket in the paint. The Hawks held on to the advantage until a made free throw by Plattsburgh State's Ian Howard put his team back up, 41-40. Howard couldn't connect on the second attempt, keeping the difference at one, but the Hawks couldn't capitalize on the other end to re-gain the lead. Chris Middleton netted a layup as time expired in the half to push the Cardinals cushion to three at the break.
 
SUNY New Paltz didn't let up in the second half and quickly gained back control. Reisert grabbed a defensive rebound off a Patron missed 3-pointer and pushed the ball ahead to Jake Passaretti who took the and-one in transition to give his team back the one-point lead following the traditional three-point play. 
 
The advantage didn't last long, however, as Plattsburgh went back on top again before four more lead changes ensued in the following five minutes. SUNY New Paltz was ahead by as many as five with 12:51 remaining following a made jumper by Paddy Parr, but the Cardinals answered with a 14-0 run.
 
The cushion built was too much to overcome for the Hawks, as they started to get into foul trouble as the game wore on. Four SUNY New Paltz players fouled out, as Plattsburgh continued getting to the line and hitting enough of its free throws to maintain the cushion and put the game away.
 
"I think the difference was we didn't attack their zone like we should have down the stretch," Kenney said. "We missed free throws, a couple layups and open 3's down the stretch and the best player in the conference had a 32 and 20 game. He made big plays."
 
Patron scored 19 of his 30 points in the second half, while shooting 47.6 percent from the floor in the game. Reisert led the Hawks with 17 points and eight rebounds, shooting an efficient 7-for-13 from the field. Wissemann followed with 12 points, nine rebounds and three assists, while shooting 50 percent in only 16 minutes due to foul trouble. Freshman Isaiah Bien-Aise added a career-high 13 points and seven rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench.
 
The Hawks are back in action Saturday, as they take on SUNY Potsdam at 4 p.m.

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