ONEONTA, N.Y. - A short-handed Oneonta men's basketball team struggled to find its rhythm in the post-season, falling 72-48 to New Paltz in the first round of the SUNYAC Tournament on Tuesday evening. The injured Red Dragons were limited to 20 points in the second half as the Hawks advanced to the semifinals against Oswego on Friday.

"I didn't do a good enough job preparing our guys for the game tonight," said head coach Cameron Conover. "In addition, we couldn't make a shot. I thank the whole team for a great season, particularly our three seniors, Joseph, Daniel, and Michael." 

Oneonta (17-9, 13-5 SUNYAC) did not lead once the entire night as New Paltz (13-13, 10-8 SUNYAC) took an early 9-3 lead. Layups from junior Frankie Williams (Bronx, NY/Fannie Lou) and sophomore Dyal Craft cut the Hawks' lead to two, but Ryan Blondo drained a three-pointer at 13:18 to make it 12-7. The Dragons kept the score within single digits, and three straight baskets from freshman Elijah Castillo (Bronx, NY/St. Raymonds) cut the lead to 18-15 with 9:10 remaining. 

New Paltz's Sean St. Lucia answered with an inside score, and then Lucas Seyoum converted a four-point play after drawing a foul on a three-pointer. Isiah Bien-Aise hit a triple at 7:06 to give the Hawks an 11-point advantage. Senior Michael Ortale Jr. (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem Central) scored off a Joseph Bull (Bronx, NY/Mount St. Michael Academy) pass before Castillo hit a mid-range jumper to bring the score within six points. 

After sophomore Caleb Brown (Brooklyn, NY/Uncommon Charter) converted an and-one at 3:11, New Paltz went on a 6-0 run to lead by 14 points. Williams converted a pair of free throws in the final seconds, but Brandon Scott netted a last-second layup to make it 42-28 at the break. 

New Paltz took a 51-32 lead following a Tyreik Frazier layup, and their lead was never in question. The Red Dragons struggled to shoot and were held without a basket for five-straight minutes. Bull gave Oneonta a pair of baskets in the final minute, but the deficit was too much to overcome.

Castillo scored 16 points off the bench and grabbed six rebounds with a steal. Williams added 12 points and five boards. Bull finished with seven points and ten rebounds. 

Blondo led New Paltz with 23 points, nine rebounds, and five steals. Lucas Seyoum added 12 points off the bench.