New Paltz, NY - The State University of New York at New Paltz men's basketball team released its 2024-25 schedule today.

The 2024-25 season will see the Hawks, for the first time in program history, as one of forerunners for the annual SUNYAC title, after a record setting 2023-24 season where the men won 20 games and defeated nationally ranked SUNY Oswego to win the SUNYAC championship. The men earned the teams first ever trip to the NCAA DIII tournament, where they gave nationally number two ranked John Carroll University a run for the money in their first round game.

Eighth year coach, Keith Kenney, will have the Hawks ready to tackle a 25 game schedule, which includes 12 teams who saw postseason action in 2023-24. The departure of SUNY Geneseo and SUNY Brockport to the Empire 8 Conference ends two longtime conference rivalries; however the SUNYAC remains at 10 teams with the addition of SUNY Canton and SUNY Morrisville.

The 2024-25 season sees the Hawks on the road for their first four games. New Paltz opens the season by traveling to New York City to face John Jay College at the Doghouse on Wednesday, November 13. Last season, the Hawks trounced the Bloodhounds 104-58.

Friday, November 22 and Saturday, November 23 sees New Paltz in the annual Hudson Valley Classic, first taking on Vassar College on Friday evening. Last season the Hawks downed the Brewers 76-76. Saturday sees New Paltz at Bard College's Stevenson Athletic Center against the home standing Raptors, who last season downed the Hawks 66-64, for just one of eight New Paltz season losses. Bard finished last season with a spot in the Liberty League playoffs.

New Paltz concludes its early season travels, going again to the depths of New York City to take on the Hawks of Hunter College. Hunter, a 2023-24 CUNY semifinalist, lost to New Paltz in overtime 76-71 a year ago.

The Hawks open their 2024-25 Hawk Center season against one of the top teams in DIII - the Ephs of Williams College (MA). Williams, 23-7 a year ago, made it to the DIII Sweet 16 as an at-large pick after losing the NESCAC championship game. The Hawks last met the Ephs in 2022-23, losing 57-63. Williams holds a 3-0 edge in the series with New Paltz.

The Hawk Center sees New Paltz begin the quest for a second SUNYAC title on Friday, December 6 against SUNY Fredonia and Saturday, December 7 against Buffalo State Universlity. Last season the Hawks won the season series against both the Blue Devils and Bengals, 96-87, 70-53 and 83-49, 74-66 respectively.

The Hawks take a three week break before their first ever venture to the 14th Annual D3hoops.com Classic at the South Point Arena in Las Vegas. New Paltz opens their desert trip on Sunday, December 29 against Hardin-Simmons University (Abilene, TX). Last season the Cowboys posted a 19-7 record and lost in the semifinals of the American Southwest Conference tournament. On Monday, December 30, the Hawks match up against University of Redlands (Redlands, CA). The Bulldogs were 16-9 and earned a berth in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament a year ago.

The Hawks are ringing in the New Year with 16 consecutive SUNYAC games, starting with three away games; a January 7 clash against nationality ranked SUNY Oswego. Last season the Lakers swept the season series, 70-92 and 83-85 but lost the SUNYAC championship game to New Paltz 85-80. An at-large NCAA DIII pick, Oswego fell in the second round of the national tournament. Saturday, January 11 sees the Hawks at SUNY Oneonta. Last season the Red Dragons also swept the season series against the Hawks, 51-58 and 77-85OT but fell to New Paltz in the SUNYAC tournament semifinals, 80-59. The Hawks conclude their road excursion in icy Canton, NY, on Tuesday, January 14, facing SUNYAC newcomer SUNY Canton. The Roos and Hawks have never met; Canton was 10-15 last season.

The weekend of Janaury 17 and 18 sees New Paltz back home at the Hawk Center, hosting SUNY Cortland on Friday evening and SUNY Morrisville on Saturday afternoon. Last season the Hawks bested the Red Dragons twice 67-61 and 83-73. Cortland was 15-12 and a SUNYAC semifinalist a year ago. Meeting Morrisville for the first time, New Paltz will be facing a Mustang team that was 20-5 in 2023-24 and lost in the North Atlantic Conference semifinals.

The annual trip up the Northway awaits the Hawks on Friday, January 24 and Saturday, January 25. Friday sees New Paltz at Jerry Welsh Gymnasium facing SUNY Potsdam. A year ago, the Hawks captured the season series against the Bears 74-52 and 87-80. Saturday afternoon New Paltz visits Memorial Hall to face SUNY Plattsburgh. The Hawks split with the Cardinals in 2023-24, winning 74-73 before losing 68-70.

The final week of January sees the Hawks host SUNY Oswego on Tuesday, January 28 before making the long road trip to Western New York to face Buffalo State University on Friday, January 31 and then SUNY Fredonia on Saturday afternoon, February 1.

The following weekend, Friday, February 7 and Saturday, February 8 see New Paltz host SUNY Plattsburgh and SUNY Potsdam respectively. Friday, February 14 and Saturday, February 15 is the final regular season road trip, first to SUNY Morrisiville and then on to SUNY Cortland. The Hawks conclude the 2024-25 SUNYAC and regular season at home against Catskill Cup rival SUNY Oneonta on Saturday, February 22.

The 55th annual SUNYAC Men's Basketball Tournament begins with first round games on Tuesday, February 25, with semi final match ups scheduled for Friday, February 28 and the championship game set for Sunday March 1. The following weekend, March 7 and March 8 mark the first and second rounds of the NCAA DIII tournament.

To view the full 2024-25 men's basketball schedule, click here.

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