NEW PALTZ — Top-seeded New Paltz won its third straight game to capture the 1999 ECAC Division III Men’s Upstate NY Basketball Championship, 96-81, over Alfred on Sunday afternoon at Elting Gymnasium. With the victory, New Paltz (18-11) sets a school record for wins in a season, and collects its first conference title of any kind in basketball. Alfred (18-10), meanwhile, ends a 10-game win streak and a spectacular tournament run, having knocked off both #2 Fredonia (70-59) and #3 Rensselaer (65-60) to reach the title game. All-Tournament selection Keith Kenney (Middletown/Pine Bush) had a tournament single-game high 41 points, including eight three-pointers, to lead the Hawks. Woody Edwards (Troy/Lansingburgh), meanwhile, continued his strong play with 18 points, nine assists, and five rebounds to earn Tournament Most Valuable Player honors. Overshadowed in the loss was All-Tournament selection Brian Quinlan (Dansville/Dansville), who had 31 points, five assists, and four steals to lead the Saxons. Also named to the All-Tournament team were New Paltz’s Mac Cavanaugh (Ithaca/Ithaca), Rensselaer’s Alex Dowlin (Phoenix, AZ/Ward Melville), and St. Lawrence’s Rob Robinson (Manhattan/Salisbury).
