Potsdam, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz faced a devastating loss against Potsdam at the Bears home court Saturday, 85-84. 
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The Hawks (12-13 overall, 10-8 SUNYAC) held up a strong fight throughout the game, with scores going back and forth and gritty tension starting at the first whistle with 10 lead changes. The crowd was on the edge of their seats, with Potsdam squeaking out a layup down to the wire and finishing their regular season with a win. 
 
SUNY New Paltz held a lead as large as nine in the first half that started with Isaiah Bien-Aise making both shots from the free throw line. Solomon Neuhaus channeled his defensive fire, with two steals in the first half and setting up Bien-Aise for a gorgeous 3-pointer on a fastbreak. The Bears kept a good fight, but the Hawks were able to hold a five point lead heading into the second half with a score of 40-35. 
 
SUNY New Paltz dominated the second half, maintaining the lead throughout the final 20 minutes with Jonah Bevacqua sinking an effortless 3 from the corner to start the half. Brandon Scott cut through the paint, taking advantage of a filthy block from Bien-Aise to extend its lead to six. The Bears answered back, going on a four point run leaving the Hawks scoreless for over a minute. Rylan Blondo broke the silence with a smooth layup to get his team back in the groove. Potsdam's Brian Pod struck a 3-pointer from quick transition to bring the margin down to one point. SUNY New Paltz started to create a comfortable gap following Pod's 3, maintaining the lead throughout the second half. Blondo, once again broke the almost two minute drought for the Hawks with a little under 10 minutes remaining in the game.    
Time ticking down with 1:30 left on the clock, the score stood at 82-81 with the Bears just barely trailing the Hawks. 
 
St. Lucia was called on a foul in the paint, causing Potsdam's Brandon Segar Jr. to make one shot from the line. Just seconds later, Bien-Aise retaliated with a smooth layup in the paint to put SUNY New Paltz up by just three. Ten seconds later, Bears Ahamadou Sillah cut into the paint with a layup making it a one point game once again. 
 
With time down to the wire, the Hawks called a timeout to regain focus for the final seconds of the game, but following a turnover, Mesean Johnson struck a layup on a fastbreak to bring the Bears ahead by one making the score 85-84. SUNY New Paltz followed with another timeout, and took the court with possession. Out of the timeout, St. Lucia found space for a shot from out wide, but the attempt was off the mark. However, Lucas Seyoum dove to maintain possession with an athletic rebound that kept the play alive. Bien-Aise then dribbled baseline for a reverse layup with time expiring with his attempt just creeping from the rim, and the Bears collected the rebound to seal the game.
 
As a team, the Hawks shot 48.4 percent from the floor and 37.9 percent from the 3-point line and defensively totaled six blocks — with Scott and Seyoum both having two for themselves — nine steals, and 29 defensive rebounds. Bien-Aise matched a game-high 23 points to lead SUNY New Paltz offensively, while shooting 9-for-16 in 32 minutes with 10 rebounds, one assist and one block. Blondo finished the night off with 11 points, four defensive rebounds and four assists. St. Lucia and Scott both had eight points apiece. 

With the regular season coming to an end, the Hawks now head into the SUNYAC playoffs, where the quarterfinals will begin on Tuesday, Feb. 21. SUNY New Paltz, earning the fifth seed, will travel to face fourth seeded Oneonta for a 7:30 p.m. matchup. The winner will play top-seeded Oswego State Feb. 24 in the semifinal round.

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