Buffalo, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz pulled away for a 75-61 road win over Buffalo State Saturday to earn its fourth-straight victory.
 
After totaling a career-high 25 points in a Friday night win over Fredonia, senior and Buffalo, NY native LaMar Matthews was the difference maker for the Hawks Saturday, as he matched Friday night's output to post a game-high 25 points with 19 coming in the second half to help lead his team to a clean sweep of the week following wins over the Bengals, Blue Devils and Canton Tuesday to improve SUNY New Paltz to 5-8 overall and 3-3 in the SUNYAC.
 
The first half was back-and-forth between the Bengals and Hawks, as the opening 20 minutes featured two lead changes with the score tied five times, but Buffalo State held the upper hand going into halftime as they connected on a 3-pointer to end the half to hold a 33-29 advantage at the break.
 
Isaiah Rivera knotted the game with a pair of free throws after working his way through the paint to start the half. The second period started mirroring the first, as the two teams exchanged leads three times more with the game tied at 37- and 41-all within the opening five minutes.  
 
Matthews re-took the Hawks lead three minutes in as he weaved his way to the hoop, finishing off glass to push the score to 39-37. Buffalo State answered with a made triple to go back up by one. Matthews buoyed SUNY New Paltz's offense, hitting on a fade-away mid-ranged jumper to gain back control for his side, but it wasn't until Matthews found Thomas Keane for two before the Hawks started building on a 5-0 run to gain some breathing room.  
A made triple in the corner by the Bengals got the hosts within two, but the hometown kid stayed hot and answered with a swish behind the arc to give the SUNY New Paltz a 53-48 lead midway through the half. Oumar Sy then helped build on the momentum for the Hawks, scoring all seven of his points in the half including a steal in the open court that led to an and-1 on the other end to bring SUNY New Paltz its first double-digit lead of the game at 59-49 with nine minutes to go. Buffalo State immediately turned the ball back over and were forced to call a timeout to regroup, but the Hawks clung onto the momentum and held on down the stretch.
 
Matthews was the star of the afternoon. In back-to-back nights he shot efficiently from the floor, going 11-for-16 Saturday from the field to match a career-high 25 points to go along with six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Isaiah Rivera followed as he posted his third double-double of the year with 17 points and 11 rebounds, scoring most of his points from the foul line where he made 11-for-12, while also adding a team-high four assists, three steals and a block.
 
The win also marked the 101st victory for Hawks coach Keith Kenney who becomes the fastest coach in program history to achieve the feat. The former Hawk is just 18 wins away from becoming the winningest coach in program history.
 
Kenney and his team look to pick up their fifth-straight victory Tuesday as postseason looms with SUNY New Paltz going back on the road to face Canton Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. eyeing a series sweep after beating the Kangaroos Jan. 13, 79-61.


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