New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz picked up its second-straight SUNYAC win after collecting a 79-61 victory over visiting Canton Tuesday night in the Hawk Center.
 
The Hawks (4-8 overall, 2-3 SUNYAC) got a balanced offensive effort in the outing, as four different players reached double-digit points, led by sophomore Isaiah Rivera who scored a game-high 18 points on an efficient 8-for-11 night, while adding eight rebounds, two assists and a game-high five steals.
 
A tight first half of play saw the Roos (2-11, 1-5) with a seven-point lead as they caught the Hawks in foul trouble, entering the bonus with five minutes remaining in the period. SUNY New Paltz countered with an 8-0 run, stemmed off good defensive stands, registering three turnovers and back-to-back fast-break buckets in the stretch with Amir Hughes capping the run on a strong finish at the hoop to push the Hawks in front, 23-22 with about three minutes to play.
 
Andrew Leonard came off the bench and drained a 3-pointer for SUNY New Paltz, capitalizing on an offensive board from Thomas Keane to bring the Hawks lead to 26-23. Canton tied the score, however, with less than a minute to go but Oumar Sy had the last points of the half as his layup pushed SUNY New Paltz ahead, 28-26 at the break.
 
The Roos had the first points of the second, but the Hawks quickly re-upped their advantage following a strong finish at the hoop from LaMar Matthews and a steal and fast-break dunk from Isaiah Rivera that ignited the home bench.  
The score was tied three times with two lead changes before a make inside the paint by Trevor Amalfitano sparked a 9-0 run within the next three minutes. Leonard capped the stretch, burying a triple on the break assisted by Hughes to extend the hosts lead, 50-49 with about 12 minutes left. Canton finally broke up the run two minutes later on a made free throw, but Mo Sylla piled on with a made triple thanks to another offensive board from Keane who kicked the ball out to Sylla in the corner.
 
Canton went cold from the floor and didn't score another basket until hitting on a 3-pointer with seven minutes to go, which cut into the Hawks lead at 59-46. SUNY New Paltz held on from there though, as Matthews countered with a strong drive through the lane before Amalfitano made two from the foul line on a tech given to Canton. He then swished on a 3-point attempt with just less than six minutes to go to create a 17-point cushion and scored again in transition following a turnover to bring the lead to 19.
 
Amalfitano eventually finished with a career-high 17 points on 4-for-8 shooting from the floor, including 2-for-3 from 3-point range and 7-for-8 from the foul line. He added three boards, two assists and two steals in 23 minutes. Sylla followed with 16 points, five rebounds and four steals, while Matthews added 12 points on 6-for-9 shooting with four boards, an assist and a steal.
 
SUNY New Paltz resumes SUNYAC action this weekend, going on the road to face Fredonia Friday night at 7:30 p.m. before taking on Buffalo State Saturday at 3 p.m.


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