OSWEGO, N.Y.  — SUNY New Paltz gave nationally-ranked Oswego a scare in the quarterfinals of the State University of New York Athletic Conference men’s basketball tournament Tuesday night, but the top-seeded Lakers held on for a 73-62 victory.

Oswego, unbeaten at home this season, will carry a 14-game winning streak into Friday’s conference final four which it will host.

New Paltz closed out the season 9-17 overall.

Oswego, 23-3 overall and ranked 14th in the D3.com poll, shot 50 percent from the field, but the Hawks nearly matched it by making 27-of-55 shots (49.1 percent) to keep the game close.

New Paltz, which lost by 22- and 24-point margins to the Lakers during the season, kept it interesting throughout.

The Hawks capitalized on turnovers and had gotten to within 31-26 with 3:30 left in the first half.

Led by Matt Devine (22 points) and Nick Taldi (16), New Paltz trailed only eight at the intermission.

An immediate surge to start the second half had Oswego up by 16, but the Hawks wouldn’t go away.

Taldi’s 3-point field goal followed by layups from Josh Engler and Jermain Wallace closed the gap to 58-51 with 6:52 left.

Hayden, who had a career-high 25 points for Oswego, responded with consecutive baskets, including a three-point play that drew Devine’s fourth foul. Continued...

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New Paltz never got closer after that.

NEW PALTZ (62)—Devine 10 0-0 22, Taldi 6 2-2 16, Wichard 4 0-0 8, Siergiej 3 2-2 8, Jenkins 2 0-0 4, Wallace 1 0-0 2, Engler 1 0-0 2, Lis-Simmons 0 0-0 0, Pierson 0 0-0 0. Totals 27 4-4 62.

OSWEGO (73)—Ward 9 6-7 25, Burridge 7 0-1 15, Gilkes 4 2-2 10, Monaghan 3 1-1 7, Michele 2 0-0 6, Sheridan 2 1-1 6, Delfino 2 0-1 4, Mirabito 0 0-0 0. Totals 29 10-13 73.

New Paltz 28 34—62

Oswego 36 37—73

3-point field goals: Devine 2, Taldi 2; Michele 2, Ward, Burridge, Sheridan.

Team records: New Paltz 9-17; Oswego 23-3.

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