The State University of New York at New Paltz completes its three-game road trip Saturday when it faces SUNY Maritime in Riesenberg Gymnasium.
 
The Hawks (2-1 overall) bounced back from their first loss of the season Nov. 12 with a come-from-behind victory against The Sage Colleges Wednesday. SUNY New Paltz trailed for most of the game against the Gators, but made plays down the stretch to re-gain the lead and close out with a 77-74 win.
 
"I think the biggest takeaway for us is that we have a lot of fight," said Hawks senior forward Tristan Wissemann of his team's latest win. "We were down 11 or 12 points at one point and we never gave up. We had a certain calmness about us. We didn't really get fazed and then we kind of stuck together and then pulled it out. I think that we can take that going forward." 
With new additions this season of junior transfer Richard Altenord and stand-out freshman RJ Meyers-Turner, combined with incumbents Wissemann, Scott Reisert, Isaiah Bien-Aise and Jake Passaretti, SUNY New Paltz has shown its prowess on the offensive end. Through three games, the Hawks have averaged nearly 86 points per game, shooting 43.3 percent with Wissemann, Altenord, Meyers-Turner, Passaretti and Bien-Aise all averaging double-figure points. They haven't look as sharp on the defensive end, but upped their play on that side of the ball in their latest outing and are looking to improve their performance against the Privateers Saturday.
 
"We've been working of [defense] at lot," Wissemann said. "Coach Bell has been on us a lot about ball screens and doing the proper rotations. We've been working hard and we know it is still early, but we are hoping to get it down by the time conference play starts."
 
The Hawks faced Maritime last season in the Hawk Center and earned a 77-73 win. They earned a 14-point cushion at the half, and although the Privateers threatened their advantage and tied the game at 69 with three minutes left, SUNY New Paltz never withheld the lead closed out with a victory.
 
Heading into their 2019 matchup, Maritime is 1-4 overall with its only win coming in its home opener Nov. 9 against Medgar Evers. It has lost four-straight games since, however, with its most recent loss coming Tuesday on the road against John Jay College.

The Privateers are averaging less than 64 points per game, while giving up nearly 75 against. Offensively, they struggle to shoot the basketball, finishing just 37 percent from the floor and 32 percent from behind the arc. Senior guard Brendan McGovern leads to team, averaging 16.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and nearly two assists per game. 

"We have a lot of respect for them," Wisseman said. "McGovern is a really tough player. He can really shoot the ball. Their point guard Whalen, he's a really good distributor. He can pass really well and get inside the defense. They don't back down from anyone. They don't care about anyone's record, about their own record. We know they are going to come to play, so we have to be ready for that."

 Passaretti paces the Hawks offensively, averaging 18 points per game, while shooting about 44 percent from the floor and 50 percent from 3-point range. Meyers-Turner and Alternord follow, netting just more than 13 points per game apiece. Meyers-Turner has shot an efficient 56 percent from the field, while Altenord has shot 42 percent, but adds 3.3 rebounds a contest and is tied for a team-high four blocks. Wissemann leads the team in minutes played (30.7), while averaging 12.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Bien-Aise is the Hawks' top rebounder, pulling in about nine a game, to go along with nearly 12 points a contest as well.

SUNY New Paltz is set to face Maritime Saturday for a 1 p.m. tip-off.

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