New Paltz men’s basketball opens season with win over Drew

NEW PALTZ, NY- The SUNY New Paltz men’s basketball team opened the 2008-09 season with a victory over Drew College, 74-61 on Saturday afternoon.

The Hawks jumped out to the early 13-2 lead just five minutes into the game. After a timeout by the Rangers the Hawks extended the lead to 29-9 with seven minutes remaining in the half, with great pressure defense and shooting 62 percent from the field. The Hawks were led by junior college transfer Connor Cornine (Warwick, NY/Don Bosco Prep) with eight points and six rebounds and freshman guard Shereef Taylor (Hyde Park, NY/FDR) added eight points and three rebounds. The Rangers were able to cut the lead to 35-23 at the half, led by Gerard Mullin with nine points and Zandy Bard with eight points.

In the second half, the Hawks were able to extend the lead to 16, but the Rangers were able to cut the lead to seven with eleven minutes left in the game. That is as close as the Rangers would get despite the Hawks shooting 45 percent from the free throw line. The Hawks shot 52 percent from the floor for the game. In his first collegiate game, freshman forward Jayquan Anderson (Bronx, NY/Frederick Douglass Academy) finished with 20 points and five rebounds. Cornine finished with a double-double, 16 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in his first game as a Hawk. Taylor tallied ten points, five rebounds and two steals.

Drew was led by Bard with 18 points and five assists and Nelson Albino with seven points and six rebounds. Mullin chipped in with nine points. The Rangers are 0-1 overall.

The Hawks are 1-0 overall and 0-0 SUNYAC competition. The Hawks return to the court Friday November 21 in the New Paltz Tip-Off Classic against Purchase College, game time set for 8 p.m.