Box Score Box Score

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz men's basketball team (11-11, 7-9 SUNYAC) saw its overall record fall to .500 Saturday afternoon, as the Hawks fell to State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) foe SUNY Geneseo (10-12, 4-11 SUNYAC), 58-46, in their home finale at the Hawk Center. Prior to tip-off, the team honored its one senior, forward Peter Carmel (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.), in a Senior Day ceremony.

The Hawk defeat comes one day after junior guard Harris Wichard (Merrick, N.Y.) scored his 1,000th career point, which came against The College at Brockport last night.

Both teams started ice cold, as they remained scoreless almost five full minutes into the contest. The first points of the afternoon came on junior guard Nick Taldi's (Merrick, N.Y.) three-pointer 4:55 into the half.

The offenses of both teams would continue to remain stagnant, as the score was 9-7 with 10:13 remaining. Geneseo soon found its offense, as it went on a 9-0 run, building its lead to 18-7 with 6:48 remaining. Geneseo's John Drazan contributed six of the team's nine points on the spurt. The Hawks cut into the deficit, however, and went into halftime trailing by seven (27-20).

Both teams would trade baskets upon the start of the second half. New Paltz started hitting its stride and whittled the Blue Knight lead down to five, as junior guard Shereef Taylor's (Hyde Park, N.Y.) field goal made the score 34-29 with 11:37 remaining. Despite the strong push to edge their way back into the game, the Hawks would not get any closer than five points.

After the Hawks came within five, Geneseo responded by going on a 15-3 run to reach its largest lead of the game, as a Lamont Stokes jumper put the visitors up 17 (49-32) with 5:38 remaining. Geneseo hung on down the stretch to seal the outcome.

New Paltz struggled from the floor, going 16-of-65 (24.6 percent) on the afternoon. The Hawks were especially cold from downtown, as they went 2-for-16 (12.5 percent). Geneseo overcame poor shooting from beyond the arc (1-of-8 for 12.5 percent) by shooting 37.9 percent (22-of-58) from the floor. The Blue Knights won the rebounding battle, 46-36.

Taylor was active all over the floor, scoring 13 points while collecting seven rebounds and five steals. Taldi and Wichard each contributed 10 points. Junior forward/center Daniel Olsen (Stafford Springs, Conn.) added three blocks coming off the bench.

John Drazan led the Blue Knights with 10 points, while Ryan Riefenhauser scored seven points and pulled down 10 rebounds.

The Hawks now finish their regular-season schedule on the road, taking on SUNY Oswego and SUNY Oneonta next week. New Paltz faces league-leading Oswego at Max Ziel Gymnasium on Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 8 p.m. and travels to Oneonta on Friday, Feb. 18, for an 8 p.m. contest.