Canton, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz won its second straight game following a 76-66 road victory over Canton Tuesday.
 
The Hawks improved to 6-4 overall and 4-1 in the SUNYAC following Tuesday night's result, as they held off a comeback against the Kangaroos who stuck around late to tie the game twice in the final minutes down the stretch.
 
In a tight first half, the Hawks used a 7-0 run to help create some separation as 20 minutes winded down. Isaiah Rivera laid down the exclamation point on the stretch, getting his hands on a pass and going coast-to-coast for a transition dunk leading to a Canton timeout with about four minutes left.
 
The Roos came back to cut the deficit to three following a steal and a 3-pointer the other way with 30 seconds left. Trevor Amalfitano helped SUNY New Paltz to a five-point advantage at the break, ending the half with an and-1 on a tough finish at the hoop with just a few seconds left on the clock. He hit on the ensuing free throw to complete the traditional 3-point play to bring the score to 38-32 entering the second half.
 
Canton tied the game at 61-all with about 3:45 left, but Lucas Seyoum answered for SUNY New Paltz as he knocked down a 3-pointer next time down the floor forcing the Roos into a timeout. Canton tied the game once again at 65-all with about two minutes to go thanks to second-chance opportunity on an offensive rebound and put-back. A.J. Knight attacked the basket on the other end and earned a trip to the foul line to re-establish the Hawks' lead. He missed the second attempt, but Mitchell Cumings picked up the offensive board to give his team a much needed second possession. SUNY New Paltz coach Keith Kenney called a timeout and drew up a play for his group with about 1:45 left.
 
Out of the sideline play, the Hawks in-bounded to Knight who got the ball to Isaiah Rivera. The freshman worked his one-on-one matchup with his back to hoop, spinning and finishing for an and-1. Although he missed the ensuing free throw, he helped his team to a 68-65 lead with just more than a minute left.
 
Canton was called on an offensive foul, turning the ball over to SUNY New Paltz which took advantage with an Ethan St. Lucia trey off a find from Knight to boost the advantage, 71-65.
 
The Hawks hung on from there, as Knight sank two from the foul line to extend the lead with 30 seconds left with St. Lucia forcing a turnover on a steal as Dakoda Smith poked the ball away on the Roos' next possession. Knight made another from the foul line with 20 seconds left after picking up an offensive board off a miss from the line by Rivera, pushing the advantage to 74-66. Another stop by SUNY New Paltz led to a foul, putting St. Lucia on the charity stripe who swished both, extending the advantage to 10 all but sealing the win for his team.
 
Knight led the way with 14 points, scoring seven from the foul line, while adding three rebounds, three assists and a steal. St. Lucia followed with 13 points on 4-for-8 shooting from the field, including 3-for-6 from 3-point range, while registering three rebounds, a block and a steal. Amalfitano was the only other Hawk in double-figure points, finishing with 12 points in 20 minutes off the bench while adding four rebounds and two assists.
 
SUNY New Paltz is back in the Hawk Center for the first time in 2025, hosting SUNYAC rival Cortland Friday at 7:30 p.m.


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