Plattsburgh, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz lost 70-68 on the road at Plattsburgh Friday night.
 
The Hawks dropped to 17-7 overall and 11-6 in the SUNYAC after falling for the second straight game. Already clinching a playoff berth, SUNY New Paltz still remain in second among the league standings with one game left in the regular season as they conclude Saturday against SUNY Potsdam.
 
The Hawks got out to a 38-24 lead after the opening 20 minutes of action but stalled in the second half with the hosting Cardinals shooting a proficient 50 percent from the field and ultimately out-scoring them 46-30 to secure a two-point win.
 
SUNY New Paltz held a 13-point lead early in the second half, but the Cardinals countered with a 14-2 run to trim the score to 44-43 with 13 minutes to go. The Hawks held onto the lead until a pair of free throws tied the score at 49-all before Plattsburgh's Willard Anderson scored in transition off a steal by Franklin Infante.
 
The Cardinals stayed in front until SUNY New Paltz knotted the score at 60-all after a swish from 3-point range by Rylan Blondo off a feed from Ethan St. Lucia. Sean St. Lucia pushed the Hawks ahead by one after earning a trip to the foul line, making the first of the pair, but Plattsburgh answered with four straight points, first with a make in the mid-range by Infante then on two free throws from the charity stripe, putting the hosts in front, 64-61 with about 90 seconds to go. Out of a timeout, Kobe Bogart trimmed the deficit to one after earning a trip to the foul line, hitting on both attempts. The two teams traded baskets in the final minute, but the Hawks couldn't get a stop on the defensive end and continued trailing after another made basket by Infante with about 20 seconds remaining. Bogart got his team to within one once again, finishing underneath the hoop but with time elapsing, SUNY New Paltz was forced to foul. Plattsburgh connected on both attempts and held a 70-67 lead with 10 seconds remaining.
 
Blondo got to the foul line and made 1-of-2 but Ethan St. Lucia gave the Hawks an extra life as he came down with the offensive board. SUNY New Paltz immediately called a timeout and out of the break got a look from the perimeter by A.J. Knight, but his attempt was off the mark. Blondo came up with the board and heaved up one last attempt to tie, but again, came up just short.
 
Bogart led SUNY New Paltz with 15 points in 27 minutes, adding four rebounds and three steals. Blondo followed with 12 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals, while Sean St. Lucia and Knight each recorded 11 apiece with St. Lucia registering eight rebounds and four assists with Knight adding three rebounds and a team-high five assists.

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