Las Vegas, NV — The State University of New York New Paltz opened up its first game at the D3Hoops Classic Sunday against Hardin-Simmons at South Point Arena.
 
The Hawks started the second half slow, allowing the Cowboys to establish a 17-point cushion and although they managed to get back within seven down the stretch, SUNY New Paltz couldn't climb out of the hole and fell, 83-74.
 
The loss was only the second of the year for the Hawks who dropped to 6-2 overall, playing in their first action since Dec. 7. Hardin-Simmons, meanwhile, improved to 5-8, bouncing back from a loss against Redlands Friday.
 
SUNY New Paltz held a one-point lead with less than five minutes left in the first half following a made free throw by LaMar Matthews, but the Cowboys answered with a 10-0 run in the following two minutes with Isaiah Rivera putting an end to the scoreless stretch for the Hawks with a make from the foul line. A.J. Knight then quickly trimmed the deficit to five, attacking the hoop and finishing at the rim before knocking down an open trey in transition. SUNY New Paltz fouled late to end the half and Austin Brewer made both attempts from the charity stripe to give Hardin-Simmons a 43-36 lead at the break.
 
The Cowboys created a 14-point advantage within the first two minutes of the second half and extended to as many as 17 with 16 minutes left. SUNY New Paltz stayed in and chipped at the lead. Trevor Amalfitano swished from behind the arc to get the Hawks within nine at 66-57 with eight minutes to go.
 
SUNY New Paltz missed its next two shots, while the Cowboys found the bottom of the hoop on consecutive possessions to get up by 15. Rivera hit from 3 off a dish from Lucas Seyoum before connecting again from above the arc off a find from Dakoda Smith to cut the difference to nine once more with five minutes left. Rivera then capped his own 8-0 run with a pull-up jumper with Smith again picking up the assist on the play to trim the score, 72-65.
 
 
The Hawks went scoreless for a two-minute stretch, allowing Hardin-Simmons to re-establish a double-digit cushion. Rivera broke up the scoreless streak with a make in the paint, but time dwindled on a potential comeback.  
Rivera led SUNY New Paltz with 20 points on 8-for-19 shooting from the field, while adding four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Seyoum followed with 13 points off the bench in 25 minutes, as he made 3-for-3 from 3-point range. A.J. Knight added 12 points on 5-for-13 shooting, while registering two rebounds, two assists and two steals. Smith totaled a game-high six steals and a team-high five rebounds and four assists with two points.
 
SUNY New Paltz got great production from its bench, which totaled 30 points. As a team, the Hawks shot 36 percent from the field and 30 percent (10-33) from 3-point range. The Cowboys took advantage of their size inside, out-rebounding SUNY New Paltz, 53-34 and scored 58 of their points in the paint while shooting nearly 52 percent from the field.
 
The Hawks conclude their trip to Las Vegas Monday, tipping-off against University of Redlands. The Bulldogs won both their matchups at the D3Hoops Classic thus far, defeating Hardin-Simmons and Mount Union, respectively.
 
Game time between SUNY New Paltz and Redlands is scheduled for 6 p.m. PST and 9 p.m. EST.


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