Cannon’s OT Buzzer Beater Lifts Hawks To Victory

NEW PALTZ, NY — Sophomore guard Tony Cannon (New York, NY) nailed a jumper at the buzzer to propel the SUNY New Paltz men’s basketball team to a 76-75 overtime win over Geneseo this evening.

Trailing 75-74 with one second remaining, sophomore guard John Hauser (East Williston, VT) threw a pass from the opposite end of the floor to Cannon who caught the pass and came up shooting from the top of the key to give the Hawks the victory. The play was redemption for Hauser who missed two free throws with 19 seconds to play and SUNY New Paltz in front 74-73.

On the ensuing possession, Geneseo (6-10, 4-4) took its only lead of the overtime period when senior guard Joe Zera (Buffalo, NY) made a lay up to put the Blue Knights in front, 75-74.

It was Cannon who also helped send the game into overtime. He hit a three-pointer with 1:07 left in regulation to tie the game at 67, after SUNY New Paltz (8-8, 3-5) fell behind by three. Cannon was one of four Hawks in double figures and finished with a career-high 16 points. Sophomore forward Amseshem Foluke-Henderson (Jamaica, NY) led the Hawks with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Hauser added 15 points; as did junior guard Maurice Douglas (Brooklyn, NY).

Zera shook off a slow start to finish with a game-high 33 points. Zera, who had just two first half points, was 14-of-21 from the field. He was the only Blue Knight in double figures.

SUNY New Paltz shot 52 percent from the field in the first half to lead by as many as 14 with 2:52 remaining. From there, Geneseo scored nine of the next 12 points to cut the New Paltz advantage to 31-23 at the break.