The SUNY Oneonta men's basketball team led by as many as 19 points in the second half and then withstood a ferocious comeback by the New Paltz Hawks today to take a road win 73-69.  A pair of free throws by sophomore Ian Schultz (Clifton Park/CBA) with 17 seconds put Oneonta (5-3, 2-2 SUNYAC) by four points.  A steal by freshman Jacob Rodriguez (Bronx/Mount St. Michael Academy) with eight seconds left iced the game for the Red Dragons.
 
Leading by 10 points at halftime, Oneonta started quickly in the opening three minutes of the second half with seven unanswered points to built its lead to 47-30.  Sophomore Kevin Mackin (Nanuet/Nanuet) started the spurt with a three-pointer and senior Dan Devine (Wantagh/Wantagh) ended it with a layup.  Devine finished the game with a career high nine points.
 
After a layup by sophomore Harrison Deegan (Putnam Valley/Putnam Valley) at the 15:24 mark gave the Red Dragons its largest lead at 51-32, New Paltz (2-6, 1-3 SUNYAC) began its comeback.
 
The Hawks put together a 28-11 run over the next 11 minutes including a 9-0 burst midway through the half to cut Oneonta's lead to a pair at 62-60 with 4:30 remaining.  Dylan Balducci, who led all scorers in the game with 22 points, led the charge.
 
Senior Dwayne Freeman (Schenectady/Notre-Dame Bishop Gibbons) scored five of his team high 18 points down the stretch including a steal and dunk to give his team a 70-64 lead with 2:06 left in the contest.
 
Oneonta jumped out to a 14-4 lead in the opening 5:19 of the game.  Sophomore Kevin Mackin (Nanuet/Nanuet) got things going for the Red Dragons with a trey on the opening possession.  Another three from Mackin gave Oneonta its first double-digit lead at the 12:52 mark.  Mackin hit four from behind the arc in the first half and finished the game with 12 points.
 
Oneonta led by as many as 16 points late in the first half before the Hawks closed the half with an 11-5 spurt to cut its deficit to 40-30 at the break.
 
Oneonta will now settle in for final exams before getting back into action on Dec. 29 when they will face Roanoke College in the opening game of the College of Staten Island Tournament.