SUNY New Paltz Fall in V-Foundation Classic Title Game

SALEM, VA — Tied at 48 with 10:42 remaining, the SUNY New Paltz men’s basketball team fell victim to an 11-1 run by Roanoke and the Maroons pulled away for an 82-65 win over the Hawks in the title game of the 11th Annual V-Foundation Classic this evening.

Coming off a 69-65 over Ferrum the night before, New Paltz trailed by as many 14 points in the first half but managed to trim Roanoke’s lead to 39-33 at half. The Hawks (3-4) were led by freshman forward Amseshem Foluke-Henderson (Jamaica, NY) who pumped in a season-best 18 points on six-of-nine shooting from the field. Freshman guard Tony Cannon (Millbrook, NY) added 11 points in 15 minutes off the bench.

New Paltz struggled from the field hitting just 5-of-22 (.227) from three-point range and was 14-of-33 (.424) from the free throw line.

Senior center Steve Ott (New Paltz, NY) and freshman forward John Hauser (East Williston, NY) each earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team for New Paltz. Roanoke senior forward Jason Gaffam (Vienna, VA) was named the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament. Gaffam had eight of the Maroons 11 points during the 11-1 second half surge that helped Roanoke (7-3) pull away. He finished the game 10 points and eight rebounds. Senior forward Drew Crowder (Radford, VA) led four Maroons in double figures with 18 points.

New Paltz will finish its three-game road swing against William Paterson on Saturday (Jan. 10) at 2:00 p.m.