BUFFALO, NY— Roderick Epps (Uniondale/Uniondale) hit a jumper with seven seconds remaining and Buffalo State (15-8/11-6) was able to clinch a SUNYAC playoff berth with a 73-72 victory tonight over host New Paltz (10-14/8-9).
 
Epps led the Bengals with 21 points and 10 rebounds.  Lovell Smith (Buffalo/McKinley) scored 18 points to go with seven rebounds, and Chris Thompson (Far Rockaway/Channel View) added 12 points, nine boards and three blocks.  Chris Cartwright (Binghamton/Binghamton) chipped in nine points and four assists.
 
Buffalo State jumped out to an 8-1 lead and led for most of the first half before the Hawks battled back and evened the score at 40-40 at the intermission.  New Paltz used an 8-1 run early in the second half to take a seven-point lead, its largest of the game.  The teams traded leads before New Paltz took a 73-72 lead with just 25 seconds remaining.  Epps knocked down a jumper on the ensuing Bengals' possession, and then the Hawks missed a bid to win the game at the buzzer.
 
Buffalo State outrebounded New Paltz, 47-37, as the Hawks shot 45 percent from the field, compared to 38 percent by Buffalo State.  The Bengals outscored New Paltz, 18-9, from long range.
 
Buffalo State will wrap up the regular season tomorrow at Oneonta at 2 p.m.