Jan 18, 2014
Box
Score
NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – In a frenetic game that had all the intensity and drama normally saved for a deciding championship seventh game, the State University of New York at New Paltz men's basketball team staved off a furious comeback by visiting SUNY Potsdam, to eek out a 66-64 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) victory that wasn't decided until the very last shot was launched as time expired.
The Bears roared back from a 12-point second half deficit to make the last 7:49 of play a test of the Hawks' fortitude and willpower. Down 65-62 with 1:48 to play, Potsdam junior guard Zac Adams connected on a layup with 1:48 to play to bring his team within 65-64. It was the last field goal either team would score in the final two minutes.
On their next possession with 48 seconds remaining, the Bears had an opportunity to take their first lead since 14-13 of the first half, but it was to no avail. Sophomore guard Joe Estramonte's floating runner in the lane rimmed out of the cylinder and the Hawks secured possession. The final 43 seconds of action defined the game's outcome. New Paltz missed two consecutive field goal attempts, the second miss off a layup from senior guard Andrew Joseph (Brooklyn, N.Y./High School of Art and Design) saw the ball squirt out of bounds, but the Hawks maintained possession with one second on the shot clock and 13.8 seconds remaining in the game.
On the inbounds, Hawk sophomore guard Keegan Donovan (Groton, N.Y./Groton) swiftly launched a desperation 35-foot jumper shot from the top of the key that caromed off the rim and was headed toward out of bounds. The ball was corralled by junior guard Taylor Sowah (Bronx, N.Y./Miller Place) before it bounced out of bounds and the Hawks bled five seconds off the clock until Donovan was fouled with three seconds left. He made his first free throw for a 66-64 New Paltz lead. Potsdam called timeout and with 2.3 seconds left Rishawd Hendricks last ditch jumper from the top of the key bounced off the backboard as time expired.
New Paltz split its two SUNYAC games this weekend and improves to 6-8, 3-4. Potsdam drops to 2-11, 0-6. The Hawks remain at home for a Tuesday, Jan. 21 game against SUNY Oswego. On that same date and time, Potsdam travels to SUNY Plattsburgh.
Led by a monster 17-point, 17-rebound game from senior forward Rob Duquette, Potsdam went on a 14-5 run over a 5:24 span to take a 57-48 New Paltz lead and trim it to 62-60 with 3:26 to play. Duquette had five points and Estramonte hit a big baseline jumper in that run. Duquette had 13 of his 17 points in the second half, his play keying the Potsdam comeback.
Despite the Potsdam pressure, the Hawks persevered and remained steadfast, getting a crucial inside layup from Sowah for a 64-40 lead with 2:51 remaining and a single Sowah free throw that kept the Hawks ahead 65-62 with 1:58 to play. Adams made his layup with 1:34 to play, bringing the Bears within 65-64.
New Paltz held a 36-28 halftime lead, built on nine points each from graduate student guard Nick Taldi (Merrick, N.Y./Bellmore JFK) and freshman forward Andrew Seniuk (Wantagh, N.Y./MacArthur). Taldi and sophomore forward Kevin Roach (Levittown, N.Y./MacArthur) had meaningful contributions for the Hawks in the second half and a layup from sophomore guard Zach Cone-Douglas (New Paltz, N.Y./New Paltz) afforded the Hawks their largest lead of the game, 54-40, with 11:02 to play. For the next six minutes, the New Paltz lead teetered on double figures as the Hawks were effective in transition and attacked the rim aggressively. Back-to-back jumpers from Duquette at the 5:12 and 4:54 mark were instrumental in tightening the game, as was a fast break layup from Adams with 4:31 left.
Three players scored in double figures for New Paltz, led by Taldi's 15 points and Sowah's 14 points along with six rebounds. Seniuk finished with 11 points. Duquette and Adams combined for 33 points, with Duquette earning his on 7-for-14 shooting and Adams securing his 16 points on 7-for-12 shooting.
NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – In a frenetic game that had all the intensity and drama normally saved for a deciding championship seventh game, the State University of New York at New Paltz men's basketball team staved off a furious comeback by visiting SUNY Potsdam, to eek out a 66-64 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) victory that wasn't decided until the very last shot was launched as time expired.
The Bears roared back from a 12-point second half deficit to make the last 7:49 of play a test of the Hawks' fortitude and willpower. Down 65-62 with 1:48 to play, Potsdam junior guard Zac Adams connected on a layup with 1:48 to play to bring his team within 65-64. It was the last field goal either team would score in the final two minutes.
On their next possession with 48 seconds remaining, the Bears had an opportunity to take their first lead since 14-13 of the first half, but it was to no avail. Sophomore guard Joe Estramonte's floating runner in the lane rimmed out of the cylinder and the Hawks secured possession. The final 43 seconds of action defined the game's outcome. New Paltz missed two consecutive field goal attempts, the second miss off a layup from senior guard Andrew Joseph (Brooklyn, N.Y./High School of Art and Design) saw the ball squirt out of bounds, but the Hawks maintained possession with one second on the shot clock and 13.8 seconds remaining in the game.
On the inbounds, Hawk sophomore guard Keegan Donovan (Groton, N.Y./Groton) swiftly launched a desperation 35-foot jumper shot from the top of the key that caromed off the rim and was headed toward out of bounds. The ball was corralled by junior guard Taylor Sowah (Bronx, N.Y./Miller Place) before it bounced out of bounds and the Hawks bled five seconds off the clock until Donovan was fouled with three seconds left. He made his first free throw for a 66-64 New Paltz lead. Potsdam called timeout and with 2.3 seconds left Rishawd Hendricks last ditch jumper from the top of the key bounced off the backboard as time expired.
New Paltz split its two SUNYAC games this weekend and improves to 6-8, 3-4. Potsdam drops to 2-11, 0-6. The Hawks remain at home for a Tuesday, Jan. 21 game against SUNY Oswego. On that same date and time, Potsdam travels to SUNY Plattsburgh.
Led by a monster 17-point, 17-rebound game from senior forward Rob Duquette, Potsdam went on a 14-5 run over a 5:24 span to take a 57-48 New Paltz lead and trim it to 62-60 with 3:26 to play. Duquette had five points and Estramonte hit a big baseline jumper in that run. Duquette had 13 of his 17 points in the second half, his play keying the Potsdam comeback.
Despite the Potsdam pressure, the Hawks persevered and remained steadfast, getting a crucial inside layup from Sowah for a 64-40 lead with 2:51 remaining and a single Sowah free throw that kept the Hawks ahead 65-62 with 1:58 to play. Adams made his layup with 1:34 to play, bringing the Bears within 65-64.
New Paltz held a 36-28 halftime lead, built on nine points each from graduate student guard Nick Taldi (Merrick, N.Y./Bellmore JFK) and freshman forward Andrew Seniuk (Wantagh, N.Y./MacArthur). Taldi and sophomore forward Kevin Roach (Levittown, N.Y./MacArthur) had meaningful contributions for the Hawks in the second half and a layup from sophomore guard Zach Cone-Douglas (New Paltz, N.Y./New Paltz) afforded the Hawks their largest lead of the game, 54-40, with 11:02 to play. For the next six minutes, the New Paltz lead teetered on double figures as the Hawks were effective in transition and attacked the rim aggressively. Back-to-back jumpers from Duquette at the 5:12 and 4:54 mark were instrumental in tightening the game, as was a fast break layup from Adams with 4:31 left.
Three players scored in double figures for New Paltz, led by Taldi's 15 points and Sowah's 14 points along with six rebounds. Seniuk finished with 11 points. Duquette and Adams combined for 33 points, with Duquette earning his on 7-for-14 shooting and Adams securing his 16 points on 7-for-12 shooting.