Box Score New Paltz, NY -- In a fight until the end, the State University of New York at New Paltz men's basketball team held on to beat SUNY Delhi, 89-84, Tuesday night. The win brings the Hawks to 2-1 on the year, and will be the last non-conference match played before State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play starts.
"We know we can play a lot better, and we haven't played our best game yet," said Hawks coach Keith Kenney. "Even though we pulled that out, we need to work on end-of-game execution."
 
Coming out aggressive in the first half, SUNY New Paltz took an early 8-2 lead over the Broncos from a junior forward Tristan Wissemann 3-pointer. When SUNY Delhi fought back to get within one at 12-11, three buckets by the Hawks, capped off by a sophomore guard Keith Seaman breakaway layup pushed the SUNY New Paltz ahead, 19-11. 
 
Scoring consistently, the Hawks kept an advantage around 10 points for most of the half, but could never break the first open. Two scores before the break by the Broncos brought them within six down, 45-39, and swung momentum on their side going into the locker room.
 
Although SUNY New Paltz out-shot SUNY Delhi in the first half, 52.94 percent to 30.23 percent, and had a better 3-point percentage (63.64 percent-21.74 percent), the Broncos were 8-8 on free throws, while also scoring more points off turnovers (8-2) and second chance points (14-6).
 
"We definitely need to stop with the turnovers," said Hawks junior forward Scott Reisert. "We're all new, and we're all learning how to play together. A little chemistry, so more experience, and I think we're going to be good."
 
A minute into the second half, a 3-pointer by senior guard Cory Garcia put SUNY New Paltz up nine at 48-39, starting a 7-0 run and extending the lead to 13. With the largest advantage of the half at 15, the Hawks were hoping to cruise to victory throughout the rest of the game.
 
With 9:48 left, four-consecutive SUNY Delhi points finished off by a 3-pointer pushed the Broncos back into the game, only down by seven at 66-59. The Hawks managed to grab their 10-point cushion back, however, as a Seaman jumper put them back in front, 73-62.
 
The moment SUNY Delhi broke through the 10-point lead to come behind nine at 4:20, Kenney called a timeout. Looking to finish strong, SUNY New Paltz went back up 83-73 with a minute left in the half.
 
Out-scoring the Hawks 6-2 in the beginning of the last minute allowed the Broncos to climb within four at 84-80, and give them a sense of hope. Although missing his first two free throws when Delhi began to foul, Garcia came up clutch for the Hawks at the line to secure the victory, 89-84.
 
"Honestly I can't remember the last time we had a winning streak," Garcia said. "We should've finished stronger, but we're going into thanksgiving on a high note."
 
Scott Reisert led SUNY New Paltz with 22 points, while sophomore guard Jake Passaretti dished out seven assists.

The Hawks will begin SUNYAC action when they return from thanksgiving break, facing Plattsburgh State on the road to start the conference schedule.

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