Oswego, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz lost its second consecutive game after suffering a 90-70 loss to hosting Oswego Tuesday night in Max Ziel Gymnasium.
The Hawks dropped to 9-11 overall and 7-6 in the SUNYAC, sitting fifth overall in the conference standings just a half game back from Plattsburgh, which they will play in the final weekend of the regular season. The Lakers, meanwhile, upped their record to 17-3 and 11-2, respectively, as they stay in second behind reigning SUNYAC Champion SUNY Cortland.
SUNY New Paltz struggled limiting Oswego from the perimeter, as the hosts shot 50 percent from behind the arc and nearly 54 percent form the field including 63 percent in the second half on 17-for-27 shooting. The visitors also got to the foul line 28 times to shoot 71 percent on 20 makes, as SUNY New Paltz needed to overcome early foul trouble as it saw three starters eventually foul out with
Trevor Amalfitano,
Isaiah Rivera and
Mo Sylla forced to play shortened minutes.
The Hawks overcame a slow shooting first half, making just nine baskets to turn around and have a second half where they shot 17-for-28 from the field and 6-for-14 from 3-point range to finish 50 percent from the floor. They trailed by 14 at halftime after Oswego ended the last five minutes of the period on a 21-7 run, capped by four-straight points in the final 30 seconds.
Thomas Keane and Amalfitano each brought down the difference to nine within the opening five minutes of the second half after connecting from 3-point range, but the Lakers answered with back-to-back triples themselves and the cushion was quickly brought back to 15 with 14 minutes to go in the game.
SUNY New Paltz struggled getting stops to close the gap.
LaMar Matthews and Justin Noeilzaire helped bring the difference to 12 with about eight minutes to go with Matthews connecting on a 3-pointer and Noelizare finishing in transition, but Oswego continued hitting from distance as another 3-ball upped the lead back to 15 two possessions later. The Hawks were kept at bay from there as the Lakers established a 20-point cushion with two minutes to go.
Matthews led SUNY New Paltz with 17 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the field including 3-for-6 from 3- point range with two rebounds and two assists. The senior, who spent his first two collegiate seasons for NJCAA schools Herkimer and Onondaga College, leads SUNY New Paltz offensively this season, averaging 15.2 points per game on 304 points scored in a career season, and is 31 points shy of reaching 1,000-career points, sitting at 969 with five games left in the regular season.
Amalfitano followed Matthews offensively, totaling 15 points on 5-for-9 shooting with one rebound, a steal and team-leading five assists in 27 minutes as the sophomore battled through foul trouble.
Oumar Sy was the only other Hawk in double-figure points, tallying 11 on 5-for-8 shooting in 21 minutes off the bench.
SUNY New Paltz is back in action this weekend for its regular season home finale, hosting Buffalo State and Fredonia Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 4 p.m., respectively, in the Hawk Center. The Hawks defeated both teams earlier in the year.
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