NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Despite leading by five points with 1:46 to play, several costly turnovers by the State University of New York at New Paltz men's basketball team came back to haunt the squad as the Hawks fell to visiting SUNY Plattsburgh 80-78 in SUNYAC action on Friday night in the Hawk Center.

Senior forward Andrew Seniuk (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh) nailed two free throws with 1:46 on the clock to give New Paltz (1-22, 0-17 SUNYAC) a slim 78-73 lead.

However a three by the Cardinals (12-12, 8-9 SUNYAC) with 1:36 left cut into the Hawks' lead, making the contest a one-possession affair, 78-76.

Unfortunately, a pair of devastating mistakes in the final 12 seconds by New Paltz handed Plattsburgh a quick 4-0 spurt, including the game-winning basket with two seconds remaining. The Hawks looked to win the game on a desperation three at the buzzer, but the Cardinals swatted the shot away as time expired.

The Hawks enjoyed a very strong first half to begin the contest, leading at intermission 46-39, shooting 60 percent from the field (18-of-30) and 70 percent from downtown (7-of-10). However, the shooting cooled off the in the second half and heated up for Plattsburgh as the Cardinals outscored New Paltz 41-32 in the last period.

Offensively for the Hawks, junior guard Dylan Balducci (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) led a balanced scoring attack that saw five players finish in double figures, as he tallied a team-high 14 points.

Sophomore guard Cory Garcia (Highland, N.Y./Highland) enjoyed a double double with 13 points and a game-high 10 assists. Seniuk notched 12 points and seven boards while sophomore forward Brandon Tolliver (Riverhead, N.Y./Riverhead) and sophomore guard Nick Paquette (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West) both recorded 11 points apiece.

For Plattsburgh, sophomore forward Jonathan Patron was a force to be reckoned with as he tallied game-highs with 34 points and 16 rebounds, with 21 of his points coming in the second half.

The Hawks will close out the 2016-17 campaign tomorrow at 2 p.m., hosting SUNY Potsdam for Senior Day, as the team will honor its lone four-year member – Andrew Seniuk – in a pre-game ceremony. New Paltz will look to avenge a 73-68 loss to the Bears back on Jan. 27. The Bears (2-22, 1-16 SUNYAC) fell at Oneonta 93-63 on Friday night.