New Paltz, NY — After nearly a decade, the State University of New York at New Paltz men's basketball program will compete for a SUNYAC title, as the Hawks took care of business Friday night in the Hawk Center, despite a scare from the 2-22 Plattsburgh Cardinals and secured a 89-85 victory along with a playoff berth in the conference tournament for the first time since the 2012-13 season.
 
"I'm proud of where the state of the program is to get to the playoffs after this long of a drought and compete for a title," said SUNY New Paltz coach Keith Kenney. "I'm proud of how hard this group has worked this year, but we know we have unfinished business."
 
The Cardinals led for most of the first half and even saw a cushion as large as eight with just more than six minutes to play before the half. The Hawks worked their way back after out-scoring the visitors 8-0 in the final three-plus minutes of the half with Isaiah Bien-Aise officially giving SUNY New Paltz the lead on a nifty spin and finger-roll finish in the paint with less than a minute left. The Hawks caught a break on Plattsburgh's final offensive possession as the ball slipped out of the hands of Todd Marlon on a shot attempt, which allowed the hosts to add on two more before the break with Sean St. Lucia capitalizing inside to bring the SUNY New Paltz lead to 42-39.
 
"Obviously, we did not play how we wanted to play. A bunch of defensive errors that we need to clean up for tomorrow, but it's great a win is a win no matter what," St. Lucia said. "We had a bunch of contributions from everybody, and it feels good. We just have to get this win tomorrow."
 
 
Plattsburgh re-took the lead early in the second half on a Kevin Tabb fast-break bucket following a block by Erik Salo, but Bien-Aise countered with another finish in the paint off a feed from Brandon Scott. Solomon Neuhaus pushed the Hawks back on top the next time down the floor with a swish from the perimeter. The Cardinals answered with a 6-0 run to get back in front and ultimately held a six-point lead midway through the half following two made free throws by Tabb. St. Lucia hit from 3-point range to get his team within one and following two defensive stops by SUNY New Paltz on a steal by Dakoda Smith and a block by Tyreik Frazier, Bien-Aise scored five consecutive points, including a traditional 3-point play on a bucket and foul to tie the game at 66-apiece with about nine minutes remaining.
 
Tabb and Neuhaus traded 3's to knot the score once more at 69-all, but the Hawks added on with seven unanswered points, which was capped by a dunk from Frazier to take a 76-69 advantage with just more than five minutes to play.
 
Plattsburgh wouldn't go away, however, as the Cardinals continued to creep toward the lead. Tabb was given three free throws on a tough call on Bien-Aise contesting a shot behind the arc, and two possessions later Tabb cut the difference to one following a made 3-pointer. St. Lucia stayed aggressive and attacked the basket on back-to-back possessions leading to points in the paint and a five-point cushion for the Hawks. Salo got inside to bring the difference back to two, but again St. Lucia worked his way through the lane and this time earned a trip to the foul line where he made both attempts to re-up the five-point advantage. 
RJ Meyers-Turner and St. Lucia each made shots from the foul line to keep the advantage, but Plattsburgh had one last effort to steal away the win. With eight seconds left, Tabb spun and hit an acrobatic, off-balanced jumper to trim the score to 88-85 and keep the Cardinals alive. Neuhaus was intentionally fouled and made 1-of-2, but that was enough to keep Plattsburgh at bay, as the Hawks defense closed out with back-to-back blocks from Frazier and Bien-Aise to secure their 14th victory of the season.
 
"It wasn't our best night, but this time of year it's just about getting the win and moving on," Kenney said. "I was proud that they stuck through a tough defensive performance and pulled out the win."
 
With starting point guard Rylan Blondo out due to injury, St. Lucia and Bien-Aise stepped up to take on the load offensively. Bien-Aise had a team-and season-high 22 points on a productive 10-for-13 shooting night from the field in 26 minutes, while adding nine rebounds and two blocks. St. Lucia played all 40 minutes and followed with a career-high 21 points (6-12), making 8-for-10 from the free throw line, while adding 11 rebounds, four assists and four steals. Neuhaus chipped in with 14 points, while Frazier finished with a double-double off the bench on 13 rebounds, 12 points and six blocks, which ranked tied for fourth-most in single game program history — a feat the 6-foot, 6-inch sophomore achieved in 2020 as well.
 
"[Assistant] coach [Mike] Duffy and Coach Kenney have been stressing to me at practice that I got to shoot more and be more aggressive," St. Lucia said. "With Blondo out there are no excuses, so obviously with that I have to step my game up and we can't take any extra losses."
 
Although a postseason berth is locked up, seeding is still undecided for the Hawks who are looking to finish strong with a win and even their regular season series against Potsdam Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. in the Hawk Center with eyes set on a first round bye in the SUNYAC Tournament. 
 
"Tomorrow is everything. I think we do make the playoffs regardless win or lose, but we're not satisfied with just making the playoffs," St. Lucia said. "We want to get the highest seed we can and we want to rack up as many wins as we can."

Highlights & Post-Game Interview with Sean St. Lucia


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