New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz lost 65-58 to visiting Oneonta (3-5 overall, 1-0 SUNYAC) Friday night in the Hawk Center to open up SUNYAC play.
 
The Hawks (2-5, 0-1) struggled offensively in the first half, totaling 24 points on eight made baskets with half of their makes coming from the 3-point line. They trailed the Red Dragons, 33-24 at the break with Oneonta going on an 8-2 stretch before Trevor Amalfitano hit at the buzzer to cut into the double-digit deficit.
 
The Red Dragons came out hot to start the second and built a 21-point lead with just less than 13 minutes to go in the second following a basket in the paint to push the score to 49-28. The Hawks stayed steadfast, however, and slowly broke the difference to a two-possession game down the stretch. LaMar Matthews sliced through the paint on back-to-back possessions to trim the deficit down to 11 before Amalfitano got his hands on a steal, which led to a trip to the foul line by Thomas Keane who sank both to push the score to 60-51 with just more than three minutes left.
 
Oneonta kept SUNY New Paltz in the game with misses at the foul line, as two failed foul shots were followed by a turnover, as Matthews got his hands on the ball, picking the pocket of Red Dragons' Nate Cohen. Keane dove across the floor to grab the loose ball, which hit off an Oneonta player and out of the bounds for the turnover, igniting the home bench and crowd. Keane took advantage of the extra possession, aggressively attacking the hoop for two and bringing the score down to 60-53 with just more than two minutes left.
 
 
The Red Dragons missed another set of free throws with SUNY New Paltz playing tough defense on the ensuing defensive possession, as Amalfitano stuck to his man tight forcing a tough contested shot as the shot clock expired and picked up the rebound off the failed attempt. Justin Noelizaire then answered offensively for the Hawks, as he got his finger roll to go, slowly and dramatically dripping off the front of the rim and into the net to cut the score, 60-55 with less than a minute left.
However, SUNY New Paltz couldn't close on the rally as it entered the bonus and fouls pushed Oneonta back on the charity stripe where it made enough to keep the Hawks at bay. Keane hit one last triple with less than 10 seconds left, but the Red Dragons iced the game with a pair of foul shots to cement the 65-58 outcome.  
Amalfitano scored 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting with three rebounds, a block and two assists in 34 minutes, while Matthews matched his point total with 12 in 31 minutes off the bench, going 5-for-12 from the field with seven rebounds and three assists. Keane added nine points, two boards, two assists and a steal, while Mo Sylla followed with seven points, nine boards, two assists and two steals.
 
Both teams shot around 40 percent from the field with Oneonta making less than 50 percent from the foul line (14-30) and just 3-for-14 from 3-point range, while the Hawks hit 7-for-20 from the perimeter and 9-for-14 from the charity stripe.
 
SUNY New Paltz has one last game in 2025, which comes Tuesday in the Hawk Center at 6 p.m. against non-conference opponent SUNY Maritime.


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