New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz suffered an 86-76 loss to visiting Farmingdale Wednesday night in the Hawk Center dropping its record to 2-4 overall.
 
The game went back-and-forth in the first half, but a 6-0 spurt to end the half, coupled with a 5-0 start for the Rams to begin the second solidified a double-digit lead, which they maintained down the stretch.
 
LaMar Matthews gave SUNY New Paltz its first lead of the game midway through the first half, getting through the lane and finishing for two at the hoop with contact for the and-1. Following an ensuing made free throw, Matthews pushed the score to 19-17 in favor of the Hawks. Farmingdale immediately answered, however, tying the score before an offensive board on the following offensive possession led to two free throws on a foul on a put-back to re-take the lead.
 
Andrew Leonard subbed in for SUNY New Paltz on the foul and immediately took advantage of the minutes off the bench, sinking a 3-pointer off an assist from Thomas Keane to put his team back in front, 22-21 with more than seven minutes to play. The Hawks couldn't sustain the lead, however, and Farmingdale regained control with makes from the foul line. Oumar Sy gave the hosts their last lead of the game with less than two minutes left, as he sliced through the paint for a lay-in at the rim, but the Rams quickly pushed down the floor and swished from 3-point range. They then forced a turnover on a steal and hit again from the same spot to take a five-point lead into halftime, up, 36-31 after SUNY New Paltz was just off on the final possession of the first.
 
 
Farmingdale connected on its first attempt of the second half before an offensive board on its next led to another made shot from the perimeter. The Rams then forced a turnover on the ensuing SUNY New Paltz possession resulting in a fastbreak lay-in to create a 12-point cushion, leading to a Hawks timeout.
 
The stoppage didn't deter the visitors as they extended their advantage to 17 before Sy drained a 3-pointer in front of the Hawks bench on a dish from Isaiah Rivera to create a spark, but Farmingdale responded with an and-1 on the other end to re-up the 17-point cushion.  
The difference expanded to as many as 22 and the Rams held an 18-point lead with just less than four minutes left, but SUNY New Paltz continued persevered through. Rivera hit from the foul line then forced a turnover on a steal, leading to a fast-break bucket by Matthews to ignite an 8-0 run, capped from a Sylla 3-pointer off an extra pass from Trevor Amalfitano to cut the score 80-70 with about three minutes left.
 
However, following a timeout, Farmingdale took advantage of the hosts foul trouble and earned three straight trips to the foul line to help sustain the double-digit cushion and ultimately close out with the win.
 
Rivera led the way for the Hawks, totaling a career-high 23 points on 9-for-13 shooting in 36 minutes with a team-leading eight rebounds to go along with two assists, two blocks and two steals. Matthews followed with 15 points on 6-for-10 shooting with Sylla recording 10 points, six boards and four steals in 26 minutes. Sy hd a career-game in 21 minutes off the bench, making 5-for-10 from the field for 12 points with four rebounds, an assist and a steal — all career marks.
 
SUNY New Paltz shot just above 45 percent from the field and 33.3 percent (7-21) from 3-point range, while Farmingdale shot similarly going 43.7 and 31.6 percent from the floor and from 3-point range, respectively. However, the Rams won the battle on the glass, collecting 50 boards, 22 of which came on the offensive glass for 21 second-chance points, while the Hawks had 30 rebounds with eight on the offensive end.

SUNY New Paltz is back in action Friday for its first SUNYAC matchup of the year, hosting SUNY Oneonta at 7:30 p.m. in the Hawk Center.
 

**************
To stay up to date with everything #NPHawks be sure to follow us on Twitter at @nphawks, Instagram and Facebook at @newpaltzhawks, and subscribe to our Youtube channel, New Paltz Hawks.