Box Score

The Oswego State men's basketball team kept its conference playoff hopes alive by picking up a key 72-69 road win over New Paltz on Tuesday. Balanced scoring was the key to the game for the Lakers as six players scored more than nine points led by 12 points from Sean Michele. Turnovers also played an important role in the game with Oswego State committing eight compared to 20 for the Hawks. The Lakers moved into a tie for the final SUNYAC playoff spot with Geneseo after improving to 6-10 in the league and 12-11 overall. New Paltz dropped to 11-13 overall and 7-10 in the conference.

Oswego State opened the game with a 14-9 cushion after Chris Gilkes sank a pair of free throws with 12:22 to play in the first half.  The New Paltz defense tightened up holding the Lakers scoreless over the next five minutes, though, until Stanley Francois drained a jumper with 7:45 left on the clock.  Gilkes closed out the half for Oswego State as he tipped in his own miss to send the Lakers into intermission trailing 32-29.

Coach Stockwell's halftime speech worked as a trey by Ryan Sheridan and a three-point play by Francois fueled a 9-2 run giving Oswego State a 40-34 advantage in the first four minutes.  The Laker lead grew to double-digits after another Sheridan three-pointer near the halfway point of the frame. 

The margin stood until the Hawks nailed consecutive treys to pull within four points at 63-59 with 3:21 remaining in regulation.  Oswego State clung to the lead down the stretch as Michele hit two free throws followed by Jose Uribe going 5-for-6 from the charity stripe in the final 20 seconds to preserve the victory.

Joining Michele in double-digits were Chad Burridge and Hayden Ward posting 11 points each and Uribe, who contributed 10 points, eight of which came at the free throw line.  The Lakers struggled from three-point land going 3-of-16 (18.8 percent), but compensated by shooting 81.8 percent (27-of-33) from the free throw line.  New Paltz was paced by Shareef Taylor, who compiled a game-high 23 points.

Oswego State will continue its bid for a playoff berth with a game at Fredonia on Friday night at 8 p.m.