Oswego, NY — Playing without its starting point guard Tuesday night, the State University of New York at New Paltz nearly pulled off a second-straight upset on Oswego's home floor. However, the comeback came up just short down the stretch with the Hawks falling to the Lakers, 74-69.
 
The last time SUNY New Paltz stepped foot in Max Ziel Gymnasium it was cutting down the Lakers nets. No doubt, Oswego was up for the re-match Tuesday night and got out to a 14-point lead with just more than five minutes left in the first. However, the Hawks closed the half on a 12-4 run to shorten the gap to 36-32 at the break.
 
Oswego re-established a 14-point cushion five minutes into the second, but SUNY New Paltz stayed resilient and continued chipping away at the deficit. A 12-2 run by the Hawks through a three-minute stretch brought the difference to four following an and-1 by Mitchell Cumings who finished strong at the rim as he ran the floor following a big block and rebound by Dakoda Smith on the defensive end with 11 minutes to play. The Lakers answered with consecutive buckets, but A.J. Knight got SUNY New Paltz within four once again after a make in the paint, a steal and a fast-break lay-in trimmed the score to 56-52 with nine minutes to go.
 
Oswego landed at the foul line to create a six-point cushion, but it was quickly erased with the Hawks countering with six straight points. Knight got the mini-run started by adding two from the foul line before a put-back by Cumings off an initial steal by Isaiah Rivera got SUNY New Paltz within two. Rivera then capped the comeback, scoring on a fade-away jumper in the paint to even the game at 58-all with seven minutes left.
 
 
The Hawks brought the momentum onto the defensive end as well, clamping down and closing in tight through the lane, forcing an errant shot. Knight picked up the defensive board and pushed down the floor to earn a trip to the line where he made 1-of-2 to give SUNY New Paltz its first lead of the night with 6:30 remaining.
 
However, like the good team it is, Oswego kept hitting big shots when needed. It countered immediately after Knight's foul shot with a make from the corner for 3 and sustained control from that point forward. SUNY New Paltz coughed up the ball on a bad pass by Knight and the Lakers immediately made them pay with another 3-ball next time down the floor to bring the score to 64-59. Cumings answered with another strong finish on the block, assisted by Knight, but a contested make on a fade-away jumper with 3:15 left brought the lead back to five for the hosts, resulting in a Hawks timeout.
 
Rivera had a good look out of the stoppage, shooting a mid-ranged jumper that went in and out of the hoop. Oswego once again capitalized on the opportunity and swished again from behind the arc to push the difference to seven with two minutes left, which felt like a dagger. Regardless, SUNY New Paltz continued fighting and out of another timeout, hit on a 3-pointer courtesy of Ethan St. Lucia to revive life into its comeback.
 
Both teams went scoreless on their next offensive possessions, but the Hawks fought hard on the offensive glass to get second and third opportunities. Trevor Amalfitano earned a trip to the line with about 1:22 left on a third-chance opportunity underneath but couldn't connect on either attempt, keeping the score at 70-66 in favor of the Lakers. Smith, however, came up big for his team as the senior captain kept his hands active in the lane and poked a loose ball out of the hands of Oswego leading to a steal and fast-break points to get his team within two with less than a minute left.
 
Smith got up for a block for another near forced turnover on consecutive possessions, but the Lakers picked up the rebound and laid in two to create a two-possession game. The Hawks had a chance in the final seconds, but a missed free throw was countered with a par of makes on the opposite foul line that brought the score to a two-possession game once more with just eight seconds left all but sealing SUNY New Paltz's fate as it suffered its first loss in the SUNYAC.
 
Smith was the catalyst for the Hawks, doing a little bit of everything as he recorded his second double-double of the season after finishing with 16 points, 14 rebounds — seven of which on the offensive glass — three blocks, four steals and an assist. Cumings followed with 11 points off the bench on a perfect, 5-for-5 shooting night in 14 minutes while adding five rebounds and a steal. Knight added 10 points and a team-leading five assists with a steal.
 
SUNY New Paltz shot 39 percent from the field and earned most of its points in the paint, scoring 40 of its 69 in the lane. It struggled from the arc though, making just 4-for-24. The Lakers held the advantage in rebounding, 40-29, but the Hawks won the turnover battle, forcing 21 while only suffering a season-low seven.
 
SUNYAC play resumes on the road for SUNY New Paltz Saturday, as it faces Catskill Cup rival SUNY Oneonta for a 4 p.m. tip.
 

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