Box Score Oswego, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz men's basketball team had a lackluster first half against league leading Oswego State Tuesday. The Hawks scored just 11 points on four baskets in the first 20 minutes, which put them in an early hole against the State University of New York Athletic Conference's (SUNYAC) best team thus far and ultimately took their fifth loss of the year after falling, 86-56.
 
"They are the best defensive team in the conference and they played like it," said SUNY New Paltz coach Keith Kenney.
 
The Hawks (6-5 overall, 1-3 SUNYAC) were held to its lowest point total of the season by a Lakers (10-2, 5-0) team who has held their opponents to just 62 points per game. 

Tristan Wissemann scored SUNY New Paltz's first seven points of the night, which was littered throughout the opening seven minutes of the game. As a team, the Hawks were limited to just 17 percent shooting from the field, including 1-of-8 from 3-point range.
 
Despite the 33-point deficit at the half, SUNY New Paltz kept fighting and trimmed down Oswego's cushion. The Hawks upped their shooting totals to 47 percent in the second half and knocked down 8-of-19 from behind the arc. They closed down the lead to as little as 15 with 10 minutes remaining in the game following a 3 by Wissemann, but the hole was too large to overcome to build on the rally.
 
"There were no adjustments [at halftime]. We just talked about effort and energy," Kenney said. "We played better in the second half to force easy baskets for us. We need to improve our consistency."
 
Wissemann led the Hawks with 21 points on 50 percent shooting from the field, including 4-for-6 from 3-point range. The Shelter Island native also added a team-high seven rebounds to go along with two assists and a steal. Jake Passaretti followed offensively for SUNY New Paltz with 10 points on 4-for-7 shooting from the field.
 
SUNY New Paltz will look to bounce back Friday and Saturday, as it hosts The College at Brockport and SUNY Geneseo at 7:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.

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