For only the sixth time in the long history of men's basketball at the State University of New York at New Paltz will the Hawks enter the semifinal round of the annual SUNYAC Men's Basketball Championship Tournament. And this is the first time that the Hawks are appearing this deep into the tournament for a second consecutive season.
 
SUNY New Paltz accomplished the historic feat by thoroughly thrashing Catskill Cup rival SUNY Oneonta on the Red Dragons home court Tuesday night, a convincing 72-48 upset in the SUNYAC Tournament first round, to move on to face the defending SUNYAC champions and No. 9 nationally ranked SUNY Oswego.
 
On the season, the Lakers completely trounced the Hawks by scores of 106-75 and 112-53. Yet, just last season, it was the New Paltz Hawks who spoiled Oswego's bid for a perfect SUNYAC season, with a 64-63 win in the Hawk Center. The key to that victory was the Hawks' defense and if SUNY New Paltz can show the same kind of aggressiveness shown then and on Tuesday night against Oneonta, perhaps…
 
Oswego is currently ranked ninth in the D3hoops national poll and first in the NCAA DIII Region III rankings. They sport a 23-2 record overall with a 17-1 SUNYAC mark. Its only losses were to Nazareth College (80-77) and SUNY Brockport (58-47). The Lakers are averaging 85.4 points per game while limiting opponents to 62.8 a contest. They have held their opponents to a .394 shooting percentage over 25 games and have out rebounded foes 43.2-33.6 rebound per game. They have averaged 18.4 points per game of off turnovers with an average of 8.6 steals and 2.7 blocks per game.
 
The Lakers have nine players who have seen significant action in all 25 games, with four averaging in double figures. Topping the list is junior guard Jeremiah Sparks (6'3, Jordan, NY) who averages 16.3 points, 6.1 rebounds per game with 84 assists, 33 steals and nine blocks on the year. Next is senior guard Devin Green (6'3, Rochester, NY) averaging 13.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game with 87 assists and 47 steals. Sophomore guard Ahkee Anderson (6'0, Center Moriches, NY) is averaging 11.4 points with 4.0 rebounds per game and leads the Lakers with 93 assists and has 47 steals. Junior forward Cartier Bowman (6'6, Trenton, NJ) averages 10.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game with 10 blocks. Sophomore guard/forward Joey Rowback (6'4, Gloversville, NY) is next with 8.4 points per game and senior forward Jamal Achille (6'4, Staten Island, NY) follows with 7.9 points, 4.9 rebounds per game and a team leading 16 blocks.