NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz men's basketball team once again got out to a fast start, but the Hawks were unable to hold on in an 84-70 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) loss to The College at Brockport on Saturday afternoon at the Hawk Center. It marked the Hawks' final home game of 2015-16.
 
The Hawks shot the ball well early, with senior guard/forward R.J. Rosa (North Branch, N.Y./Sullivan West) knocking down a 3-pointer with 14:16 to go in the first half to hand New Paltz a 12-6 lead. New Paltz either led or was in striking distance until a 9-1 Golden Eagle run to close the first period handed Brockport a 43-36 advantage heading into the locker rooms.
 
New Paltz charged back with a 7-0 surge to start the second half, and a dunk by junior forward Brandon Guest (Washingtonville, N.Y./Washingtonville) tied the score at 43-all. The Golden Eagles countered with seven unanswered points of their own, but after Brockport opened up a 60-52 advantage, New Paltz received a put-back layup from Guest and a 3-pointer by sophomore guard Dylan Balducci (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) to pull within three. Brockport pushed the lead to double digits with a 9-1 spurt, and the Golden Eagles led comfortably from that point forward.
 
New Paltz drops to 4-18 overall (3-13 SUNYAC) with the loss and next visits Buffalo State in its penultimate game of the 2015-16 season on Friday, Feb. 19, at 7:30 p.m. Brockport rises to 15-7 overall (10-5 SUNYAC) with the win and visits SUNY Cortland next on Tuesday, Feb. 16, at 7:30 p.m.
 
The Hawks shot 40.7 percent (24-of-59) from the floor, including a 44 percent clip (11-of-25) from 3-point range, and they were credited with assists on 16 of their 24 field goals. Brockport, meanwhile, shot 55.7 percent (34-of-61) from the field and finished with a 41-25 edge in rebounds.
 
Balducci scored a team-high 14 points coming off the bench, while Guest and senior guard Keegan Donovan (Groton, N.Y./Groton) netted 12 and 10 points, respectively. Rosa netted nine points and doled out a game-high six assists.
 
For Brockport, junior guard/forward Clifton Lyerly led the way with a double-double, scoring 24 points and pulling down 13 rebounds. Junior guard Devonn Gavin and junior forward Levi Pace recorded 15 and 14 points, respectively, coming off the bench, while junior guard Matthew Smith netted 10 points.