Box Score New Paltz, NY – After dropping a tough game in its home gym less than 24 hours earlier, the State University of New York at New Paltz men's basketball team bounced back and pulled out a 76-73 overtime win Saturday against visiting SUNY Geneseo (4-9 overall, 1-6 SUNYAC).  
 
"We needed this win really bad," said Hawks junior forward Tristan Wissemann. "There's five, six teams battling it out for about two spots in the SUNYAC playoffs and Geneseo is one of those teams and we missed out on a really good opportunity last night, so we're just happy that we grabbed this one tonight."
 
In a tightly played first half, SUNY New Paltz (7-6, 2-4) went into the break with a seven-point lead after ending the first 20 minutes on a 9-4 run, which was capped off by a 3-pointer by Scott Reisert. 
 
The Hawks took that momentum into the opening minutes of the second half, as they matched their largest lead of the game with 10 minutes left after another made 3 by Reisert. SUNY New Paltz never gave up the advantage in the half, but the Knights slowly chipped away at the deficit.
 
With both teams heavy in foul trouble, the game quickly got into the bonus, which benefited the Knights who needed to slow down the clock in order to have enough time to complete their rally. Stephen Walter got SUNY Geneseo within four with a basket, while Michael Gannon hit one from the foul line on a one-and-one before getting his put-back to go on the Knights' following offensive possession to cut the difference to one.

Nick Paquette knocked down another 3 for the Hawks to push the lead back to four, but SUNY Geneseo continued getting to the foul line and making just enough at the charity stripe to stick around. After Jack Manke made 1-of-2 from the foul line for the Knights, Cory Garcia responded for SUNY New Paltz, finishing on a pass from Parr with about 1 minute, 30 seconds left to create a 3-point lead. Walter missed the initial shot on the ensuing possession, but he got his own rebound, which led to an open 3 by Gannon to tie the game at 65.
 "We definitely felt like we were the better team. We have a lot of advantages, whether it's physically or skill wise, or whatever it maybe, but credit to them they made a lot of great plays down the stretch," Wissemann said. "We didn't execute at certain times, but at the end of the day we got the W and that is all that matters."

Reisert couldn't connect on the Hawks' next offensive possession and SUNY Geneseo came up with the defensive rebound. The Knights called a timeout after advancing the ball into their front court and held the ball for the final play of regulation. Gannon found some space inside and put up a shot, but could not get it to go. SUNY New Paltz struggled to get the rebound once again, as Manke grabbed the offensive board, missed the put-back, which was then rebounded by Gannon, who also could not find the bottom of the hoop as the buzzer sounded to force overtime.
 
Wissemann knocked down a 3 to open up extra time and although the game remained within one-possession, the Hawks maintained the advantage. Walter answered Wissemann's 3 with a trey of his own, but after a pair of defensive stops and a couple of missed free throws by the Knights, Garcia laid in two from the baseline off a nice find by Reisert. Gannon couldn't get his 3 to go on the ensuing possession, while Wissemann answered with two more points for SUNY New Paltz on the other end.

SUNY Geneseo had one last chance to extend the game to a second overtime, as it held possession on its sideline with about 13 seconds left. The Knights held the ball for the final shot and found Terrance Nichols who drove and put up a contested jumper, which fell short, finalizing the, 76-73, outcome.
 
"In the huddle we actually wanted to foul them to put them on the line and not risk the chance of them hitting a 3, but they kind of caught it off balance and were a little deep, so I don't know if was Cory or Paquette, but they stayed up on him and he just chucked up an air ball and it ended the game," Wissemann said."

Wissemann led the Hawks with 19 points on 7-for-16 shooting from the field with two rebounds and two assists in 27 minutes. Paquette followed with 17 points, shooting 5-for-11 from 3-point range, and three boards in 23 minutes off the bench. Reisert added 15 points, seven rebounds, two assists and a steal in 31 minutes of action.
 
"I think right now more than anything, just staying together, withstanding runs," said Wissemann of what will be key moving forward in SUNY New Paltz's playoff hunt. "When we were up 10, we knew they were going to make a run and they came back and tied it. I think they had a lead at one point late in the game and we were able to withstand it, but at the same time we should be able to not let them get that. That is the biggest thing for us, playing a full 40 and not taking five-minute stretches off."
 
The Hawks are back home Tuesday, as they host SUNY Cortland for a 7:30 p.m. game in the Hawk Center.  

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