Kings Point, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz improved to 2-0 on the season after going on the road and earning a 69-59 win over hosting United State Merchant Marine Academy Tuesday night.
 
The Hawks held strong defensively, as they limited the Mariners to just 33.3 percent shooting from the field and a miniscule 13 percent from 3-point range as they finished 3-for-23.
 
SUNY New Paltz trailed for most of the first half but continued working toward the lead with Sean St. Lucia tying the score at 26 with just more than six minutes left following a make in the paint. Merchant Marine Academy re-upped a lead to as many as six with about 3:30 remaining, but St. Lucia helped his team to the lead after forcing a turnover on a steal and finishing in transition to bring the score, 35-34 in favor of the Hawks.
 
Tyreik Frazier came in and extended the lead to three with a dunk as he worked on the block. Free throws allowed the Mariners to re-take the advantage with less than a minute left, but SUNY New Paltz had the final say of the half as Rylan Blondo was hit as he went up for a trey with time expiring, putting him on the line for three free throws where the made two to give SUNY New Paltz a 40-38 lead at halftime.  
 
The Hawks regrouped in the second half and dominated play. They never trailed in the final 20 minutes and defensively allowed just eight made baskets for the hosts, which them to establish a double-digit cushion four minutes into the half.  
SUNY New Paltz saw its largest lead hit 13 three times down the stretch, first coming around the 13-minute mark thanks to a finish in the paint by A.J. Knight, then again, a minute later with Frazier capitalizing off a block on the defensive end to then finish in the paint on the ensuing possession to bring the score to 53-40 in favor of the Hawks.
 
Merchant Marine slimmed the difference to eight with seven minutes to go, but Kobe Bogart and Knight answered with back-to-back baskets for the Hawks with Knight bringing the score to 65-52 with just less than four minutes left after making the backend of a pair of free throws.
 
The Mariners cut the score to 65-57 with 1:28 left, but the Hawks halted any thought of a rally as they got a stop then made 4-for-4 from the line in the final minute by Bogart and Knight to solidify the win.
 
Knight led SUNY New Paltz with 14 points, followed by Bogart who tallied his first double-double as a Hawk with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Blondo followed with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
 
The Hawks are back in action this weekend, participating in the Hudson Valley Tournament against Vassar College Friday on the campus of Mount Saint Mary at 6 p.m. before hosting Bard College in their home opener in the Hawk Center Saturday at 6 p.m.

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