PLATTSBURGH — The Plattsburgh State men's basketball team had a perfect opportunity to wrap up a spot in the SUNY Athletic Conference playoffs Friday but fell to Potsdam.
The Cardinals' playoff chances are still good; however, the path is not as easy as it was.
Plattsburgh (7-15, 5-10) now must win two games out of its final three to be guaranteed a playoff spot.
"If we win we aren't necessarily in," Cardinals coach Tom Curle said. "If we get two then we're in.
"We'd like to control our own destiny. We'd like to get two and feel good about getting in. We have to get to the playoffs first and then we don't know what can happen."
Tonight, Plattsburgh has a 6 p.m. game at New Paltz (8-15, 5-11).
The Cardinals defeated the Hawks in the earlier part of the season, 86-72.
Shavar Fields had a monster game offensively, scoring 27 points on 11-of-18 shooting. Josh Bruno tallied 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds for Plattsburgh while John Perez finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
New Paltz was paced by Matt Devine's 27 points and Harris Wichard's 20 points. No other player finished with more than seven points.
"Right now we are in a struggle to make the playoffs," Curle. "They're having the same struggle as we are.
"We were playing a bit better then than we are now, but we can get it back."
The Cardinals have been struggling of late in finishing games strong. A lot of their contests have come down to the final minutes.
"We have to do a better job at stopping teams at important times," Curle said. "There is a an ebb-and-flow to every game but there is always a possession or two that is real important. If you can earn a stop or get a bucket at that point, good things can happen. This team is struggling to do that."
With Friday's loss to Potsdam, Plattsburgh is now riding a three-game losing streak. The Hawks' losing streak has reached five games.
Currently, the Cardinals hold the seventh position in the SUNYAC playoffs while New Paltz is in the eighth spot, having an extra game in the loss column.
"We are going to keep working," Curle said. "I think it's eventually going to payoff. I still think that there is a chance it can payoff this year. We are going to have to learn to make that stop or make that basket. It comes down to the end of the game, it's that simple. We have to get a little more discipline at the end of games.
"It's the little things. We will need to keep improving on the little things, but we are going to keep trying."
After tonight's game Plattsburgh wraps up its regular season on the road with games at Brockport and Geneseo on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
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