SUNY New Paltz Tops Bard in Consolation Game

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — The SUNY New Paltz men’s basketball team defeated Bard 108-86 in the consolation game of Hudson Valley Shootout Wednesday evening at Vassar College. The Hawks (2-1) received a balanced attack led by senior forward John Hauser (East Williston, NY/Chaminade) who finished with 17 points, five rebounds and two assists. Junior guard Tony Cannon (New York, NY/Millbrook) added 16 points and five rebounds while junior forward Amseshem Foluke-Henderson (Queens, NY/Academy for American Studies)finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and four steals.

The Hawks attained their highest scoring output for a single-game in the five-year coaching career of Head Coach Doug Pasquerella. SUNY New Paltz was on the mark all game from the field shooting 57 percent (43-of-75) from the perimeter and 7-of-14 from three-point range.

In the first half, SUNY New Paltz used a 16-4 run to build a 34-23 lead with just under 10 minutes remaining. The Hawks saw their largest lead of the half when Hauser sank a jumper with seven minutes remaining to give SUNY New Paltz a 41-28 lead. The Raptors made a run of their own late in the first half and pulled to within four points at the 1:49 mark on a
three-pointer to trim the Hawks lead to 49-45. From there, SUNY New Paltz outscored Bard 8-3 the rest of the way and a three-pointer by junior guard Jimmy Sugrue (Hastings-on-Hudson, NY/Hastings) at the buzzer sent the Hawks into the break with a 57-48 lead.

The Raptors (0-4) made a run early in the second half and tied the game at 62 with 15 minutes to play. SUNY New Paltz however went on a 17-1 run over the next five minutes and capped their surge with a three-pointer by junior guard Victor Alvarez (Far Rockaway, NY/Beach Channel) at the 10-minute mark to make it 79-63.

The Hawks will return home on Friday when they will host Fredonia State in a SUNYAC match-up at 8 p.m. On Saturday the team will host Buffalo State at 4 p.m.