The State University of New York at New Paltz go on the road for another slate of SUNYAC games ready to complete its second-straight weekend sweep.
 
After defeating SUNY Geneseo and The College at Brockport in the Hawk Center last weekend, the Hawks head to SUNY Cortland and No. 22 nationally ranked Oswego State — the latter of which has yet to lose a game all season.
 
"It gives us a lot of confidence," said SUNY New Paltz sophomore forward Lucas Seyoum. "Cortland is an alright team, they're better than their record and obviously Oswego, they're top in the SUNYAC right now. They're definitely not unbeatable. We have the ability to beat them, but it gives us a lot of confidence. We're second in the league, tied with Oneonta. I think we're going to give Oswego and Cortland a good shot."
 
The Lakers sit first in the SUNYAC standings at a perfect 10-0 and 16-1 overall with their only loss coming against Nazareth College back in November. Since then, they have rattled off 13-straight wins.
 
 
Through its first 17 games, Oswego has averaged nearly 80 points per game, while allowing less than 60 and holding teams to 38 percent shooting, including an abysmal 27 percent from 3-point range. The team also ranks second in the SUNYAC in total rebounds (42.9) and turnovers (10.8) and leads the conference in scoring. Senior guard Julien Crittendon, junior guard Devin Green and sophomore guard Jeremiah Sparks are the Lakers leading scorers, all averaging in double-figures. Crittendon leads the team in points per game with 12.4, while shooting 45.3 percent from the field. Green follows offensively, averaging 11.6 points on 46.4 percent shooting, including 45 percent from behind the arc. Sparks leads the teams in rebounds and assists per game, averaging 6.6 and 3.2, respectively.
 
"We're excited. We had Williams this week and it got [postponed] and I think they were at 15th [nationally], so it's going to be pretty fun to play against Oswego a nationally ranked team and show everyone we're a really good team," Seyoum said. "Even though we're not nationally ranked we can definitely compete with all of those teams."
 
Oswego has had the upper hand against SUNY New Paltz in the matchup, winning the last 11 games including the most recent on Feb. 4, 2020. The game Saturday will be the first of two this season, with the Lakers visiting the Hawk Center Feb. 11. 
But, before the Hawks can tip-off against Oswego, they have to face SUNY Cortland which sits seventh in the conference standings at 3-5 and 7-8 overall. The Red Dragons' three conference wins this season came against Fredonia, Plattsburgh and Potsdam — the latter of which SUNY New Paltz lost to on the road earlier in the year.
 
Cortland has won two games in a row twice, including a sweep over Plattsburgh and the Bears two weeks ago, but is coming off consecutive losses against The College at Brockport and undefeated Oswego State.
 
As a team, the Red Dragons have averaged about 71 points per game and yielding nearly 70 against, which reflects its near .500 record. Junior forward Austin Grunder leads the team offensively, averaging 17.6 points, 11.3 rebounds per game, while shooting above 46 percent from the field and has totaled six 20-plus point performances, including scoring 28 and 26 against Potsdam and Oswego, respectively, in the last three games. Senior forward Eric Edwards is the only other Red Dragon averaging double-figures with 12 points per game on 45 percent shooting. Junior guard Kareem Lubin follows with 9.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

"They're a good matchup for us, similar size in each position," Seyoum said. "They're a talented team. Have a couple big guys, but I think we'll be able to play them defensively. They've got a lot of 3-point shooters so we've got to play the 3-point line really well and the drive isn't going to be as much as a problem, so we're not going to help as much. And, we're just going to lock up and not give up good 3's."
 
The Hawks are led by sophomore guard Rylan Blondo who has emerged as a Player of the Year candidate with his performance this season. Blondo is averaging 18.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.4 steals per game while shooting 54 percent from the field, including 32.7 percent from 3-point range. Sophomore guard Solomon Neuhaus follows offensively, averaging 12.4 points per game and is shooting 34.4 percent from 3-point range. Rounding out SUNY New Paltz's starting five is forward Isaiah Bien-Aise and Seyoum who are both totaling about nine points a contest, along with sophomore guard Sean St. Lucia who is scoring nearly eight points per game and leads the team in assists with nearly five a contest.
 
Cortland won the last two matchups against the Hawks, both coming during the 2019-20 season with SUNY New Paltz last earning a win in Whitney T. Corey '43 Gymnasium Feb. 12, 2019. It hopes to replicate that performance with another victory on the road against the Red Dragons Friday.
 
The Hawks are set to face the Red Dragons Friday at 7:30 p.m. before taking on Oswego Saturday at 4 p.m.

Weekend Preview Featuring Lucas Seyoum


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