The State University of New York at New Paltz was just shy of making the conference playoffs for the first time since 2013 last winter. The Hawks needed wins over SUNY Potsdam and Plattsburgh State in the final State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) weekend of the season and unfortunately lost two tight games against the Bears and Cardinals.
 
Ten months later, SUNY New Paltz has an early season re-match against its conference rivals in its first SUNYAC weekend of the season.
 
"It's very exciting. I know the boys from last year we owe them one and we really want to go give them two this year," said Hawks senior forward Scott Reisert. "They did end our season. It was pretty rough, but I'm excited. I know everyone else is excited just to start SUNYAC play, but to play these two especially there is a lot of history. We don't like each other honestly." 
SUNY New Paltz has lost six-straight games to Potsdam with the last two games coming down to a key basket by the Bears' Dante Langley in the final half minute. Langley is no longer on the roster, finishing out his senior season in 2019 after guiding Potsdam to the quarterfinal round of the SUNYAC playoffs, but the Bears are rolling to start their 2019-2020 campaign.
 
Through five games, they are 4-1 with their only loss coming against Division I University of Albany. They are averaging nearly 80 points per game, while keeping their opposition to just 75 points a contest.
 
Senior Jayquan Thomas leads the Bears with 17.6 points per game, shooting 48 percent from the floor, while also pacing the team with about three assists per game. Junior Brandon Segar Jr. is the team's best distance shooter, hitting 9-for-19 from behind the arc and averaging about 16 points and nine rebounds per game.
 
"Friday we expect Potsdam to be really good inside the lane. Game is going to be won inside the lane right there," Reisert said. "They want to get inside and they have some shooters that will knock them down, but primarily they want to get to the hole."
 
An NCAA tournament team a year ago, Plattsburgh graduated its best players from last season's roster and has started the year 2-3 thus far. The Cardinals will face SUNY Oneonta before taking on the Hawks, but heading into the weekend are looking to overcome a two-game losing skid after starting the year 3-0.
 
"[Plattsburgh] should be a good game," Reisert said. "There is definitely some rivalry. Any team in the SUNYAC is considered a rivalry. New coach, new players, doesn't matter, same rivalry."
 
Junior Travis Cox leads Plattsburgh's offense with nearly 20 points and six rebounds per game, while shooting more than 50 percent from the floor, including 33.3 percent from 3-point range. Senior Nick DeAgnelis follows offensively, as he's averaging 14.2 points off the bench, while freshmen duo Cameron Ness and Axel Rodriguez have made an immediate impact, combing for more than 20 points and 13 rebounds per game with each starting every game thus far.
 
There likely will be a big turnout Saturday with Rodriguez coming home for the first time. The former New Paltz Huguenot starred on the boy's varsity basketball team and led the program to back-to-back Section IX Class A Championships. In five starts for the Cardinals, he is averaging about 10 points and three rebounds per game, while shooting about 33 percent. 
 
SUNY New Paltz is not only excited to get up and earn some pay-back against both programs with a pair of wins, but is also eager to get back on the floor after a poor performance in its last outing against SUNY Maritime. The team struggled defensively in the 94-80 road loss, allowing the Privateers to exceed their season-high by shooting 56.3 percent from the floor and 41.9 percent from 3-point range.
 
The Hawks have put the loss behind them and spent the 13 days improving on that performance, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
 
"We've been very focused, more than ever," Reisert added. "We are really hammering down our principals. Our defense, offensively, we're doing stuff that hasn't been seen before. We definitely hammering them down, taking care of business."   
 
SUNY New Paltz is set to take on SUNY Potsdam Friday in the Hawk Center at 7:30 p.m. and then will get back on its home floor Saturday for a 4 p.m. tip-off against Plattsburgh State.

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