NEW PALTZ, NY — Sophomore guard Matt Irwin (Brooklyn, NY) scored a career-high 16 points and dished out six assists to help lead the SUNY New Paltz men’s basketball team to a 72-56 win over conference rival SUNY IT in the league opener for both teams this evening at Elting Gym.
Irwin’s effort helped the Hawks stop a seven-game losing streak against the Wildcats dating back to 2000. SUNY New Paltz scored the first nine points of the game and led by as many as 17 in the first half. Irwin and sophomore forward Amseshem Foluke-Henderson (Jamaica, NY) keyed the first half charge with 12 and 10 points respectively. The Hawks maintained a double figure lead throughout the first half and led by as many as 17 following a jumper by Irwin with 2:40 remaining in the half.
On the defensive end, the Hawks held SUNY IT to 34 percent shooting in the half and limited 2004 First Team All-SUNYAC selection Nick Grimmer (New Hartford, NY) to just two points on 1-of-7 shooting. Grimmer finished the game with eight points on 3-of-11 shooting. Senior forward Rich Phillips (Yorktown Heights, NY) led the Wildcats with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Foluke-Henderson finished with 12 points and six rebounds and sophomore forward John Hauser (East Williston, NY) also finished in double figures with 11 points and a team-best nine rebounds.
