Geneseo, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz succumbed to its second consecutive one possession loss Saturday, falling to hosting Geneseo 66-65.
 
The Hawks climbed out of an early 10-point hole to start the game at 26-16 forcing coach Keith Kenney to call a timeout seven minutes into the game. His team responded with five-straight points that allowed them to work back into the game through the midway point of the half.
 
Dakoda Smith came off the bench and helped SUNY New Paltz take its first lead of the contest since the opening minute from tip-off. Smith ripped down a defensive board and pushed to RJ Meyers-Turner who finished on a euro-step in transition following a defensive stand to get his team within two. Smith then found Lucas Seyoum next time down the floor who lined up and knocked down a 3-ball to push the Hawks ahead 38-37 with four minutes left. Seyoum connected again at the same spot next time down the floor with Meyers-Turner there on the dish to extend the lead to four.
 
The score stood for nearly two minutes until Geneseo hit back-to-back from behind the arc to regain the lead with 45 seconds to go in the half. Brandon Scott answered for SUNY New Paltz, hitting on a trey of his own at the top of the arc to push his team ahead, 44-43 at the break. The two teams exchanged baskets, which tied the score at 47 before a 9-0 run by the Knights forced Kenney into a timeout with 13 minutes to go and the hosts leading, 56-49. Rylan Blondo earned a trip to the foul line out of the break and stopped the scoreless drought after hitting both attempts from the line. SUNY New Paltz held firm defensively on the ensuing possession, allowing St. Lucia to push up the floor and find Blondo for a transition 3, trimming the deficit to four with 7:30 left.
 
Blondo and St. Lucia then hit consecutively from the perimeter to regain the advantage for the Hawks, 63-62 with two minutes to play. Blondo then stretched the lead to three after making both attempts of a 1-and-1 after the Knights fouled the Brooklyn, NY native on a defensive board.
 
Geneseo answered with a basket in the paint to get within one with 1:26 left. Blondo lost control driving into the lane on the next possession and the Knights took advantage after St. Lucia was called on a loose ball foul with less than a minute to play, putting the Knights' Kevin Ranaghan on the line for a 1-and-1 where he calmly hit both to push the hosts up, 66-65.
 
With less than 30 seconds ticking down, Seyoum got a look from the perimeter that bounced off the side of the rim with Geneseo picking up the defensive board. SUNY New Paltz didn't foul, but instead immediately doubled in the corner forcing the Knights into another timeout with 20.6 seconds on the clock.
 
Geneseo then worked the ball passed mid-court out of the timeout, which forced SUNY New Paltz to intentionally foul and send Raymond Grabowski to the foul line for a 1-and-1. Grabowski gave the Hawks life with a miss, as Seyoum ripped down the defensive rebound. However, the Hawks gave the ball back with 6.1 seconds remaining as Meyers-Turner was called on the offensive foul as he tried penetrating the paint. SUNY New Paltz kept fighting and had one last chance for a last-second victory, doubling on the Knights ensuing inbounds play with Scott coming up with the steal. The senior attacked the basket, took contact and put up an attempt but the shot came up just short with Geneseo grabbing the defensive board and time running out before the Hawks could foul one last time.  
Blondo led his team with 23 points off 7-for-15 shooting with seven rebounds, three assists and one steal. St. Lucia followed with 10 points, three rebounds and three assists.  Seyoum added nine points, six rebounds, one assist, one block and a steal, while Scott finished with eight points, five rebounds, an assist and two steals.
 
SUNY New Paltz drop to 7-7 overall and 5-3 in the SUNYAC after the loss and will return home next weekend to face Oswego State and SUNY Cortland where it'll look to put an end to its five-game losing skid.
 
Hawks are set to face the Red Dragons Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m. before facing the Lakers the following day at 4 p.m. in the Hawk Center.

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