Buffalo, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz went on the road and suffered a 91-81 loss to hosting Buffalo State Sunday.
 
The Hawks gave up 90-plus points for just the third time all season with the Bengals shooting nearly 50 percent in the game. Aaron Davis and Philbert Weekes were the catalyst, combining for 44 points with Davis adding seven assists and Weekes a team-high 18 rebounds to record a double-double in the outing.
 
"Today was about defense. We didn't defend at all today," said SUNY New Paltz coach Keith Kenney. "We didn't prepare them well enough for what Buffalo State did. Buff State out-played us for most of the game."
 
A Rylan Blondo 3-pointer gave the Hawks their largest lead of the game early in the first half at 17-11, but Buffalo State countered with a 10-0 run to get in front by four mid-way through the period. Blondo broke up the scoreless stretch after making 1-of-2 from the foul line, but SUNY New Paltz didn't record a made basket until Blondo's jumper with 8:40 to go in the half. Sean St. Lucia closed the gap to two following back-to-back made buckets, but the Bengals ended the half on a 11-6 advantage and owned a nine-point cushion at the break, 44-35.
 
Buffalo State flirted with a double-digit cushion several times, building a hole as a large as 11 three times early in the second half, but Solomon Neuhaus and Blondo helped the Hawks creep back in. Neuhaus got to the foul line with more than 12 minutes to go and made both attempts to cut the score, 61-55. Davis answered with a made jumper, but Isaiah Bien-Aise and Blondo hit back-to-back shots in the paint to get their team within four. 
After getting a stop on the defensive end, St. Lucia picked up the defensive rebound and then found the ball again on the offensive end for a make from 3-point range to get his team within one at 63-62 with just more than 10 minutes remaining. The Bengals called a timeout and the two teams traded baskets for the next minute of play, including a catch and swish by the perimeter by Neuhaus on an assist from St. Lucia, but Buffalo State proceeded on a 8-0 run to get its lead back to nine with about six minutes left. Blondo broke up the run with a nice finish in the lane, but SUNY New Paltz went cold for the following two minutes with the hosts able to pile on and again pushed the advantage to 11.
 
The Hawks couldn't overcome the large deficit once again. They got as close as six in the final minute with Neuhaus connecting from 3-point land, but they couldn't get a stop defensively to inch closer to the lead and ultimately suffered a 10-point defeat.
 
Blondo led all scorers with 23 points on 9-for-18 shooting with six rebounds, a block, an assist and two steals. Neuhaus followed with 22 points, hitting 4-for-6 from 3-point range, along with adding four rebounds and an assist. St. Lucia had a team-high seven assists, six rebounds and 17 points.
 
SUNY New Paltz is back in action Monday, taking on Fredonia State in Dodds Arena at 2 p.m.


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