New Paltz Sports Information Department
Oswego, NY — For the first time in more than two decades, the Hawks are SUNYAC Championship bound.
The State University of New York at New Paltz entered Friday night as the second seed facing the No. 6 seeded Oneonta Red Dragons, who had swept the Hawks during the regular season. They left no doubt Friday night though in the SUNYAC Semifinal matchup on the campus of SUNY Oswego, as SUNY New Paltz dominated off the opening tip and closed out on an 80-59 win.
The victory not only placed the Hawks into just their third ever SUNYAC finals appearance and first since 2003, but also notched the team their 19th win of the year — the most in program history.
Coach Keith Kenney's squad came out hot and established a 10-point lead midway through the first half following a triple by Rylan Blondo off a feed from Sean St. Lucia. Blondo quickly piled on, as he earned a steal on the ensuing possession for the Red Dragons and earned a trip to the line after getting hit in transition. The made free throws helped continue SUNY New Paltz on what turned into a 12-0 run, which built a 20-point cushion after a make from the perimeter by Ethan St. Lucia that pushed the score to 40-20 with seven minutes to go in the half.
Sean St. Lucia gave the Hawks their largest lead of the half on a score in the paint with about 2:30 remaining before the break at 46-22. Oneonta scored in the final 30 seconds to chip into the deficit, 47-26.
SUNY New Paltz didn't let up in the second half, but instead continued piling on to its already hefty lead. Ethan St. Lucia facilitated the difference, as he first found the open man on the perimeter leading to a 3-point swish by Kobe Bogart before winning back possession for his team on a steal, which led to an easy layup for A.J. Knight to boost the Hawks advantage to 27 five minutes into the half.
The Red Dragons broke through the 20-point deficit twice, but SUNY New Paltz quickly answered to stay in control. A fast-break bucket by the Red Dragons' Elijah Castillo got them within 18, but the Hawks answered with six unanswered points. Graham Wooden hit a 3-pointer for the Red Dragons to once again close the gap to 18 with about four minutes left, but Sean St. Lucia countered with two made free throws, while Blondo added two more in the paint to help close out the 20-point win.
SUNY New Paltz had an efficient shooting night, hitting more than 50 percent from the field, including 8-for-13 (61.5 percent) from 3-point range. The offense was spread around, as it had four players in double-figure points. Blondo led the charge, finishing with a game-high 22 points on 7-for-14 shooting to go along with 7-for-10 from the foul line while a tying a career-high 14 rebounds, with an assist and a game-high four steals. Bogart followed with 18 points, four rebounds and a steal. Knight totaled 17 points, two rebounds and an assist, while Ethan St. Lucia finished with 11 points, two rebounds and a steal off the bench. Sean St. Lucia chipped in with eight points, three rebounds, two steals, a block and a game-high seven assists.
SUNY New Paltz enters the SUNYAC Championship Saturday against the top-seeded Lakers who defeated SUNY Cortland, 76-68 in the other semifinal of the night. Oswego won both matchups against the Hawks in the regular season, but the last time the two faced in Max Ziel, the No. 5 nationally ranked Lakers needed a late comeback to force overtime and earn the win over the Hawks.
Tip-off Saturday is scheduled for 4 p.m.
