UTICA, NY – The State University of New York New Paltz men's basketball team continued its undefeated start to the 2026-27 campaign Thursday evening, overcoming a halftime deficit to defeat host Utica University, 86-73, at the Clark Athletic Center.
The Hawks improved to 4-0 overall with their fourth consecutive non-conference victory, using a dominant second-half defensive performance to overcome a four-point halftime deficit. SUNY New Paltz outscored the Pioneers 42-25 over the final 20 minutes, holding the hosts to just 28.6 percent shooting from the field after Utica connected on 54.5 percent of its attempts in the opening half.
Chris Whyte-Luciano led the Hawks offensively with a game-high-tying 22 points, shooting 9-for-16 from the floor and knocking down four 3-pointers. Trevor Amalfitano followed with 19 points on an efficient 6-for-8 shooting performance, including 4-for-5 from beyond the arc, while dishing out a team-high six assists.
Isaiah Rivera recorded a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds, while George Patsalos dominated the glass with a game-high 18 boards to complement 15 points, two assists, two steals and two blocks.
SUNY New Paltz opened the contest with a jumper from Mike Miller before Whyte-Luciano connected from beyond the arc to give the Hawks an early 5-2 advantage. Utica answered with an 8-2 stretch to move ahead, but the visitors continued trading baskets with the Pioneers in a tightly contested opening half.
Amalfitano connected on a triple to push SUNY New Paltz ahead 17-13 with just over 13 minutes remaining, while Mo Sylla added a pair of free throws to extend the advantage to four. Utica battled back to even the score at 21 before the teams continued exchanging leads through the middle portion of the half.
Whyte-Luciano provided an offensive spark down the stretch, knocking down consecutive triples during the final six minutes to keep the Hawks within striking distance. After Utica built a four-point advantage, Whyte-Luciano buried another shot from deep to cut the deficit to one with three minutes remaining.
Patsalos later connected from beyond the arc to give SUNY New Paltz a 44-42 lead with two minutes left in the period. However, the Pioneers responded with six unanswered points to close the half, taking a 48-44 advantage into the break.
The Hawks came out of halftime with renewed energy, immediately attacking the basket behind Rivera, who scored five of SUNY New Paltz's first seven points of the period. Utica briefly extended its advantage to 54-49, but Amalfitano answered with a triple off a feed from Patsalos before converting a transition layup to tie the contest at 54.
Following a defensive stop, Amalfitano knocked down a free throw to give SUNY New Paltz a 55-54 lead with 16:09 remaining, an advantage the Hawks would not relinquish.
Rivera followed with a layup before connecting from beyond the arc off an Amalfitano assist, extending the lead to 60-54 and forcing Utica to respond. Patsalos added a finish inside, and Amalfitano buried another 3-pointer to push the Hawks ahead 65-58 with 13:28 left.
The Pioneers continued battling, trimming the deficit to five midway through the second half, but SUNY New Paltz maintained its composure on both ends of the floor. Patsalos cleaned up an offensive rebound for a putback before converting a pair of free throws to keep the visitors in control.
Miller then delivered a pivotal stretch, knocking down a triple off an Amalfitano assist to give the Hawks their first double-digit lead of the evening at 74-64 with 8:34 remaining. Less than a minute later, Miller finished inside off a feed from Patsalos, extending the cushion to 12 and forcing another Utica timeout.
SUNY New Paltz continued executing offensively, with Patsalos scoring consecutive baskets in the paint to maintain a double-digit advantage. Rivera added two free throws before Whyte-Luciano connected on a jumper with just over three minutes remaining to push the lead to 84-71.
The Hawks held Utica to just three points over the final five minutes, closing out the 13-point road victory to remain unbeaten.
SUNY New Paltz finished shooting 48.4 percent from the field and 39.3 percent from beyond the arc, connecting on 11 triples while holding the Pioneers to just four makes from deep. The Hawks also won the rebounding battle, 44-40, and recorded 16 assists on 31 made field goals.
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