Box Score Box Score

GENESEO, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz men's basketball team (8-4, 4-2 SUNYAC) won for the fourth time in as many games Friday evening in Geneseo, N.Y., besting SUNY Geneseo (6-5, 0-4 SUNYAC) by a count of 78-69 in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action.

Geneseo hopped out to an early 6-2 lead in the first half, but New Paltz went on a 9-0 run on the strength of four points from sophomore guard/forward Matt Devine (Manalapan, N.J.) and three points from junior guard Harris Wichard (Merrick, N.Y.). Both teams would battle back and forth, but a Wichard three gave the Hawks a 12-point lead at 26-14 with 6:34 left to play in the frame. After the Blue Knights cut the advantage to single digits, Devine capitalized on an old-fashioned three-point play, putting the blue and orange back on top by 12 at 29-17 with 5:09 to go in the half. Geneseo, however, would end up finishing the period on a 12-5 run, and New Paltz would hold the halftime edge at 34-29.

Jordan Jones opened up the fresh period with a made free-throw shot and then connected on a jumper to pull Geneseo within two, and the two sides traded points until junior forward/center Daniel Olsen (Stafford Springs, Conn.), sophomore guard Nick Taldi (Merrick, N.Y.) and Wichard constructed a 7-0 New Paltz spurt. Junior guard Shereef Taylor (Hyde Park, N.Y.) gave the Hawks their biggest lead of the game with 5:22 to play in the second half, as his three-pointer put them up 15 at 66-51. In the final three minutes, the Blue Knights cut the lead to as few as seven points, but New Paltz's foul shooters were on the mark down the stretch to put the game on ice.

Geneseo shot 45.9 percent (28-of-61) from the floor on the game but was undone by an 11-of-19 (57.9 percent) showing at the charity stripe and 19 turnovers. The Blue Knights also held a 42-39 cushion in the rebounding battle. New Paltz shot 39.1 percent (27-of-69) from the field on the night, including a 43.8 percent (14-of-32) mark in the second half.

Four Hawks reached double figures, with Devine leading the way with a game-high 18. Wichard and Taylor each scored 14, while Taldi pitched in 13. Olsen caromed a game-high 10 rebounds and added four points. Taylor once again was the key distributor, as he handed out six assists, while Devine and freshman guard Taylor Sowah (Bronx, N.Y.) stood strong on the defensive end of the floor, notching two steals each.

Geneseo was led by Connor Fedge, who tied Devine for the game-high in points with 18. He scored his 18 points off 9-of-13 shooting from the floor. Jordan Jones (16) and Mike Hoy (14) also joined Fedge in double-digit scoring figures. Mike Baker dished out five assists, while Thomas Decker and Lamont Stokes each boasted two blocked shots.

New Paltz hopes to continue its hot streak tomorrow afternoon when it travels to Brockport, N.Y., to face The College at Brockport in a 4 p.m. SUNYAC showdown.