Red Dragons Top SUNY New Paltz Men’s Basketball

NEW PALTZ, NY — The SUNY New Paltz men’s basketball team fell to Cortland in a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) contest this evening. The Red Dragons took the affair 71-59.

SUNY New Paltz entered halftime down 37-21, but a 5-0 run by the Hawks midway through the closing period cut the Cortland (21-2, 13-1) lead to nine, 55-46. The Red Dragons, however, soon reestablished control to come away with the 12-point win.

The Hawks finished the evening with three players in double figures. Junior forward John Hauser (East Williston, NY) led SUNY New Paltz (5-19, 2-13) with 17 points, while collecting six rebounds, and three steals on defense. Junior guard Matt Irwin (Brooklyn, NY) and senior guard Keith Crichlow (Central Islip, NY) totaled 16 points and 14 points, respectively. Crichlow also tallied eight rebounds for the Hawks, three coming offensively.

Seniors, forward Frank Ranieri (Cicero, NY) and center Scott Taggart (Sidney Center, NY) finished with 20 points apiece for the Red Dragons. Taggart collected eight rebounds, while Ranieri grabbed seven. Junior guard Dave Maggiacomo (Pleasant Valley, NY) added 15 points off the bench for Cortland.

The SUNY New Paltz men’s basketball team will complete their season and conference schedules on Friday, February 17, in an 8:00 pm SUNYAC contest against Plattsburgh.