BUFFALO, NY – — The New Paltz men’s basketball team hit their first seven shots and led by as many as 11 in the first half, but Buffalo State rallied for a 74-71 win over the Hawks this afternoon.
The Hawks (7-15, 4-9) took a 20-9 lead four and a half minutes into the game on a basket by senior guard Ben Davey (Andover, NJ). Buffalo State answered the hot start by New Paltz with a 16-4 surge over the next eight minutes to take a 25-24 lead. The lead changed hands nine times the rest of the half but two free throws by Davey gave the Hawks a 38-36 lead at the break.
New Paltz took a six-point lead with 14:20 to play on a basket by junior guard Dom Fornabaio (Wappingers Falls, NY). The Hawks maintained the lead until the 8:38 mark when Buffalo State’s Perry Davis hit a pair of free throws to tie the score at 53. Justin Konst then gave the Bengals the lead for good with a three-pointer that made it 56-53 with 8:30 remaining. Davis scored inside with four minutes to play to put Buffalo State ahead 66-58.
The Hawks narrowed the Buffalo State lead to two with 27 seconds to play on a pair of free throws by sophomore forward Peter Ferenz (Huntington, NY) but the Bengals held off New Paltz for the second time this season.
Buffalo State, who defeated New Paltz 74-64 on Dec. 7 at Elting Gym, is now 16-5 overall and 11-2 in the SUNYAC.
Davey and junior guard Joseph Bell (Albany, NY) each had 17 points for the Hawks. The Bengals placed four players in double figures and were led by Joshua Becker’s 22 points.
