New Paltz, NY — Two career-highs were the highlight of a walloping of visiting Fredonia Saturday in the Hawk Center.
The Hawks (11-11 overall, 9-6 SUNYAC) celebrated their two lone seniors in
Thomas Keane and
LaMar Matthews in the team's regular season finale in the Hawk Center and the two posted career-highs in a 94-69 rout of the Blue Devils.
Matthews was the game's leading scorer, finishing with a career-high 30 points on an efficient 12-for-17 shooting, adding seven boards, two assists and a steal in 33 minutes, while also notching his career 1,000th point in the outing. Meanwhile, Keane was the ultimate facilitator on the night, recording a career-high 10 assists, just two shy of getting into the top five most in program history, while adding five rebounds and two steals.
The game was tight to start but after
Isaiah Rivera tied the score at 14-all, the Hawks slowly built their lead with efficient scoring, finding good shots against the Blue Devils' man defense, as they proceeded on an 18-0 run in the following five minutes. The team finished the first half making 23-for-34 in the first half including 6-for-11 from 3-point range to aid in a 53-29 lead at the break, capped with a triple from
Andrew Leonard.
Gallery: (2-7-2026) Men's Basketball vs. Fredonia State
SUNY New Paltz sustained the 20-plus point lead in the second half with its lead extending five minutes in following a made triple and a swish on a free throw by Rivera to create a 28-point cushion. Matthews gave the Hawks their largest lead of 30 with seven minutes left, finishing strong underneath on a feed from Keane to create an 86-56 score.
The hosts dominated throughout, scoring 52 points in the paint and 24 points from their bench, highlighted by Leonard and
Peter Nydam who totaled nine points on 4-for-5 shooting in 22 minutes. As a team, SUNY New Paltz made 61.3 percent from the floor and 45.8 percent (11-24) from 3-point range — both season highs. Rivera followed Matthews offensively with 24 points on 9-for-11 shooting, including 4-for-5 from 3-point range in 28 minutes with three rebounds, two assists and a block.
Oumar Sy and
Mo Sylla followed with eight points apiece with the former adding six bards, two assists, two blocks and two steals and the latter finishing with seven rebounds and an assist.
After sweeping their weekend slate, the Hawks moved back to .500 at 11-11 overall and improved their SUNYAC record to 9-6 to move into fourth on the league leaderboard.
They conclude their last three regular season games on the road, beginning with current No. 3 seed Oneonta Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
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