NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Senior forward Andrew Seniuk (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh) was perfect from the field on Saturday afternoon and finished with a team-best 18 points but his scoring performance was not enough as the State University of New York at New Paltz men's basketball team fell to visiting Buffalo State 78-69 in SUNYAC action inside the Hawk Center.
 
Seniuk finished the day 8-of-8 from the field and 2-of-2 from three-point range in nearly 40 minutes of action. Junior guard Dylan Balducci (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) followed with 14 points and freshman center Nick Arthur (Washingtonville, N.Y./Washingtonville) provided 11 points for the Hawks (1-19, 0-14 SUNYAC).
 
Sophomore guard Cory Garcia (Highland, N.Y./Highland) notched eight points, nine assists and five boards in the defeat.
 
As for the Bengals (14-7, 8-7 SUNYAC), four players finished in double figures as Lovell Smith tallied a game-high 22 points. Dom Grayer followed with 21 points (7-of-16 from three) while Jordan Glover contributed 12 points. Mike Henry tallied a double-double with 11 points and 13 boards.
 
Tied at 22-all midway through the first half, both teams kept trading baskets until the Bengals went on a 14-3 run to put the Hawks in an 11-point hole (36-25). New Paltz enjoyed a quick 7-2 spurt before halftime, capped off by a three from sophomore guard Nick Paquette (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West), as the Hawks trailed 38-32 at intermission.
 
In the opening minutes of the second half, Balducci brought the Hawks to within two, 38-36, after a jumper. However, the Bengals countered with a 26-5 run to put New Paltz in a 64-41 hole. The home team would trail by double digits until 2:15 left in the game when Seniuk cut the Buffalo State lead down to eight (70-62) but could not get any closer the remainder of the contest.
 
New Paltz remains at home to close out the season, hosting Brockport and Geneseo next weekend, Feb. 10-11, before wrapping up the year against Plattsburgh and Potsdam.