PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz men's basketball team (6-8, 4-3 SUNYAC) gave SUNY Plattsburgh (9-5, 5-2 SUNYAC) 16 trips to the free-throw line in the second half and committed 25 turnovers, which ultimately hurt the Hawks in a 75-70 loss to the Cardinals on Friday night at Memorial Hall in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action.

Senior forward Matt Devine (Manalapan, N.J./Freehold Township) led the Hawks with 22 points, while senior guard/forward Shereef Taylor (Hyde Park, N.Y./Franklin D. Roosevelt) notched his third double-double of the season with 13 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Junior guard/forward Taylor Sowah (Bronx, N.Y./Miller Place) helped spark the attack coming off the bench, as he netted 13 points in 28 minutes of reserve duty. Freshman forward Deveino McRae (Bronx, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac) helped the team's interior defense, as he swatted a career-high three shots. McRae also had seven points and six rebounds.

For Plattsburgh, Shamoy McIntosh poured in a game-high 23 points, while John Perez added 12. Chris Manning and Mike Mitchell each had four assists—a game-high total—while Manning and Jordan Moody each came up with the game-high in steals with four. A total of 10 different Cardinals scored at least three points.

Plattsburgh shot 75.9 percent (22-of-29) from the line and forced New Paltz into 25 turnovers, which helped provide the margin of victory. The Cardinals also held a 47-40 edge on the glass. New Paltz outshot Plattsburgh from the floor, though, knocking down 39.0 percent (23-of-59) of its shots compared to the Cardinals' 32.9 percent (23-of-70) clip.

After a three-pointer by Sowah gave the Hawks their first lead of the game early, Plattsburgh went on a 10-0 run, which was capped off by a layup by Moody. Sophomore guard Joe Hulbert (Delanson, N.Y./Duanesburg Central) hit two threes in a span of two minutes to help make up some ground, and midway through the period, freshman forward Kevin Roach (Levittown, N.Y./MacArthur) made it a two-point contest at 18-16. Shavar Fields scored four straight points to recapture the momentum for Plattsburgh, but the Hawks closed the first half on a 5-0 spurt. The Cardinals took a 30-28 lead into the locker room.

Four points by McRae in the opening minutes of the second stanza helped stake the Hawks to a three-point edge. An 11-0 Plattsburgh scoring spree tilted the scale once again, but the Hawks clawed back and twice came within three points midway through the second half. After Taylor hit a pair of free throws to pull New Paltz within three at 9:42 of the second half, the Cardinals went on an 11-2 run. Six straight Hawk points minimized the damage heading into the home stretch, but Plattsburgh wound up constructing a 10-point edge with 1:55 remaining in regulation. Devine scored the final five points of the contest, including a three-pointer with two seconds left, to help the Hawks close the game on a positive note.

New Paltz—which saw its modest two-game winning streak come to a close Friday night—returns to the hardwood tomorrow afternoon, as it visits SUNY Potsdam for a 4 p.m. contest.