Brockport, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz erased a 16-point second half deficit Friday and got within one of hosting Brockport Friday night.
 
Backed by a career-high 20 points by Brandon Scott, the Hawks narrowly pulled a comeback over 12-3 Brockport, but the Golden Eagles held on and forced a contested shot in the final seconds for SUNY New Paltz that was off the mark, solidifying the 82-79 win for the hosts.
 
The Hawks never led in the game after the Golden Eagles got out to a 6-0 run. Brockport eventually grew its lead to nine with nine minutes to play in the half with Rylan Blondo trimming the deficit to seven on a swish on a mid-ranged jumper. Out of inbounds play two possessions later, Dakoda Smith got SUNY New Paltz within five, laying in two inside the paint. Smith scored again, finishing inside following a feed by RJ Meyers-Turner, but the Golden Eagles answered with six unanswered points to go up by nine once more with just more than five minutes to play.
 
A put-back by Smith with 3:18 remaining helped bring the difference down to four, but Brockport scored from the foul line and in the paint to re-up a seven-point cushion with a minute left. Scott ran and finished in transition for the final points by the Hawks in the half. Brockport swished on a jumper at the buzzer to create a seven-point cushion before the break. 
 
The Golden Eagles pushed their lead to 16 off an and-1 by Tony Arnold with 13 minutes left in the game before SUNY New Paltz began chipping away. Solomon Neuhaus cut the score 64-52 two minutes later just before a media timeout and the Hawks continued to build off their momentum. Alex Krupinski officially broke the double-digit deficit, banking in a 3-pointer with 8:46 remaining which ended a 0-for-17 mark from 3-point range for the Hawks.
Brockport answered to build another 15-point cushion with just 6:33 left, but SUNY New Paltz continued fighting. Scott trimmed the difference back down to nine on a steal and fast-break finish. Following a defensive stop, Bien-Aise was fouled after grabbing a defensive board, which put him at the line for a 1-and-1. He sank the first, but his second attempt careened off the rim. Smith was there for the rebound, which led to a bucket by Seyoum, resulting in a 3-point swing and cutting the score to 80-74 with 2:30 left.
 
The Hawks struggled getting a defensive rebound to close out the ensuing possession as Brockport got off back-to-back attempts from the perimeter with three-straight offensive rebounds but ultimately Seyoum created the turnover picking the pocket of Mekhi Beckett, resulting in a transition basket by Scott to slice the score to 80-76 with a minute left.
 
Beckett got to the foul line following a foul by Bien-Aise, but missed his 1-and-1 attempt, which allowed the Hawks the chance to create a one possession game. Blondo's attempt from behind the arc was just off the mark but he didn't give up on the play and forced Arnold to inadvertently step out of bounds following his defensive rebound to create a turnover giving his team back the ball with 42.5 seconds left.
 
SUNY New Paltz turned the ball over again on a forced pass inside the paint before placing Beckett back on the charity stripe following a foul with 22 seconds remaining. Beckett gave the Hawks another life following another 1-and-1 miss. Bien-Aise ripped down his career-high 18th rebound of the night and Scott answered for his team with a huge 3-pointer that cut the score to 80-79 with 15 seconds to go in regulation.
 
SUNY New Paltz was forced to intentionally foul to stop the clock and Arnold made both attempts at the line to create a three-point game with 12.6 seconds left. The Hawks had the ball with an opportunity to tie, but the Golden Eagles protected the perimeter and forced a contested shot by Seyoum that was off the mark. Neuhaus picked up the offensive board and heaved up a last-second attempt at the buzzer, but the shot fell short resulting in the 82-79 final.
 
The Hawks were led by its two fifth-year seniors in Scott and Bien-Aise. Along with scoring a career-high on 8-for-18 shooting, Scott added five rebounds, three assists and three steals in 37 minutes. Bien-Aise recorded his third career double-double after pulling down a career-high 18 rebounds, six of which were on the offensive glass, with 12 points, an assist, a block and a steal in 33 minutes. Blondo was the only other Hawk in double-digit points, registering 15 on 6-for-11 shooting with five rebounds, three assists and three steals in 33 minutes.
 
The loss is the fourth consecutive for SUNY New Paltz, as it falls to 7-6 overall and 5-2 in the SUNYAC. The Hawks look to end their losing skid Saturday when they face hosting SUNY Geneseo. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.

***********************
To stay up to date with everything #NPHawks be sure to follow us on Twitter at @nphawks, Instagram and Facebookat @newpaltzhawks, and subscribe to our Youtube channel, New Paltz Hawks.