New Paltz, NY — After a tough 24-point loss Friday night, the State University of New York New Paltz bounced back with a rout of Potsdam, 87-62 in the Hawk Center.
 
The Hawks improved to 15-7 overall and 11-4 in the SUNYAC, while the Bears dropped to 4-17 and 4-10, respectively.
 
"Obviously, that was a really bad loss that we took yesterday, but Potsdam wasn't the greatest team coming into this game but that doesn't mean that this win wasn't as rewarding as any other win," said Hawks senior Lucas Seyoum. "Now we just have to look forward, win two big games this weekend and then obviously our last game is Senior Night against Oneonta."
 
The first half was tight. Alex Krupinski provided good minutes off the bench as the senior tied a first-half game-high of 13 points to help his team to a 36-30 lead at the break.
 
SUNY New Paltz slowly built on the advantage in what turned into an explosive second half. The hosts scored 51 points in the final 20 minutes on 59 percent shooting, including 6-for-15 from 3-point range. Potsdam, meanwhile, made just nine shots in the second half and went 0-for-9 from behind the arc as it saw the game get away midway through the period.
 
 A.J. Knight buried a 3-pointer to re-create a double-digit cushion for the Hawks four minutes into the half. The Bears worked their way back to within four, but a triple by Seyoum off a dish by Thomas Keane triggered a 7-0 run. Knight added on, going coast-to-coast with a steal and finish on the break.
 
The Bears called a timeout to try and slow down the stretch, but immediately after the 30 second break, they threw the ball away for the unforced turnover. SUNY New Paltz took advantage of the free possession, as Isaiah Rivera capped the surge with a driving layup that put SUNY New Paltz up 11 with 13 minutes left.
 
 
After Potsdam brought the difference back down to 10 once more with less than 12 minutes remaining, answering a Rivera jumper with a jumper on the other end, SUNY New Paltz countered with six-straight points. The Bears scored their first bucket since three-minute stretch began, but Trevor Amalfitano pulled momentum back toward the Hawks after draining a 3-pointer off a kick out by Mitchell Cumings to establish a 17-point lead. Cumings added on next time down the floor with a make in the paint, before Dakoda Smith finished with a dunk in the paint off a find from Cumings. Cumings then put an exclamation point on the game, catching an alley-oop from Rivera before throwing it down with two-hands to ignite the crowd and push the advantage to 23.  
The play signaled the end of any type of comeback from the Bears as the air was let out of their side as they faced a 25-point hole with seven minutes to go. SUNY New Paltz kept the foot on the gas, holding onto the comfortable 20-plus point cushion to close out with the win.
 
Seyoum finished with a team-high 17 points in 24 minutes, making 4-for-8 from 3-point range. Cumings followed with 13 points in 19 minutes off the bench, shooting 6-for-8 with six rebounds — all on the offensive glass — with three assists and a block. Smith nearly tallied a double-double, finishing with nine points and nine rebounds with four assists, one block and three steals.  
 
"I shoot and I hit 3's. That's what I need to do to win," Seyoum said. "As long as the team wins, I'm happy."
 
SUNY New Paltz has a big final road SUNYAC weekend looming, facing Morrisville and Cortland on the road Feb. 21 and 22, respectively. Already clinched a playoff spot, the No. 1 seed is still in play with the Red Dragons holding a game up at 11-3 overall. The Hawks are set to face the Mustangs Friday at 7:30 p.m. before tipping off against the Red Dragons Saturday at 4 p.m.
 
"Everyone's in their head of 'We need to win so we can host,' but it would be nice to get the bye… main goal is to host," Seyoum added. "If we can win out, we can probably achieve that goal."
 


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