Box Score New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz men's basketball team dropped a tight, 59-55 game against visiting SUNY Potsdam Friday night.
 
The Hawks (14-10 overall, 9-8 SUNYAC) and Bears (13-11, 9-8) were both fighting for playoff berths with the former needing just a win to cement a place, while the latter keeping their aspirations alive with the four-point victory.
 
There were 20 different lead changes throughout the game with the score tied five times on the night. SUNY Potsdam took a slight, 27-26 lead into halftime and SUNY New Paltz snatched back the advantage in the opening minutes of the second half, following a made bucket in the paint by Paddy Parr.

The lead changed hands five times before Dante Langley scored five-straight points to put the Bears ahead for a five-minute stretch early in the half. Isaiah Bien-Aise gave the Hawks back the lead with about 10 minutes to go and Matthew English took over from there, as he checked in off the bench.
 
The 6-foot, five-inch junior out of Smithtown, NY established himself in the paint and scored seven-straight points to keep SUNY New Paltz out in front.
 
Langley cut into the deficit after knocking down an open 3 with about five minutes left to get his team within one at 48-47. He cut the deficit to one again with about three minutes to go, swishing his floater in the lane. However, Danny Delsol-Lowry was who got SUNY Potsdam over the hump, as he knocked down a 3 at the top of the arc to push the Bears ahead, 54-52 with a little more than a minute left.
 
Tristan Wissemann had an opportunity to answer for SUNY New Paltz, but his jumper on the baseline was short with no call made on some contact after the release, giving SUNY Potsdam back the ball with 54 seconds remaining.
 
Langley then connected again in the lane on the other end to push the cushion to four. Scott Reisert narrowly trimmed down the advantage, but his attempt at the rim went in-and-out with the Bears picking up the rebound.
 
SUNY Potsdam struggled at the foul line to finish off the game, giving the Hawks life. Jake Passaretti sank a long-ranged 3 with 3.5 seconds remaining to give SUNY New Paltz hope for a last-second victory. The Hawks then intentionally put Delsol-Lowry on the foul line with 2.5 seconds left, who, despite the raucous crowd in the Hawk Center, coolly knocked down both attempts to ice the win at 59-53.
 
English led SUNY New Paltz with nine points in just 10 minutes, while Passaretti followed with eight points and two steals. Cory Garcia led the Hawks with five steals, six assists, three rebounds and six points on the night, while Parr finished with five points and five rebounds.
 
SUNY New Paltz is back in the Hawk Center Saturday in its regular season finale against Plattsburgh State at 4 p.m. The Hawks need a win against the Cardinals, who clinched the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament, to earn a spot in the postseason.

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