New York University hit four free throws in the final 1:12 as part of a game-ending 6-0 run as SUNY New Paltz fell 73-68 to the Violets, in the championship game of the NYU Holiday Tournament on Tuesday night.
First year Harris Wichard led four players in double digits for the Hawks, tallying 14 points and earning a place on the All-Tournament squad.
SUNY New Paltz led 39-34 at halftime, but NYU emerged from intermission re-energized, as evidenced by a 21-3 surge to start the second half. However, the game featured 11 ties and 11 lead changes and eventually became dramatic Shereef Taylor (13 points, 7 rebounds) hit a pair of buckets to power a 12-0 surge, putting New Paltz ahead 64-62 with 4:08 remaining.
The Hawks took their final lead, 68-67, after a jumper in the paint by Jayquan Anderson (13 points, 12 rebounds) with 1:42 to go. From there, NYU drew contact and hit both tries at the charity stripe to make it 69-68 with 1:12 remaining. On the ensuing possession NYU stole the ball for a lay-up with 20 seconds remaining to make it 71-68, and completed the scoring with two free throws with four seconds remaining in the game.
NYU shot 48.1% (26-for-54) and owned a 36-32 edge on the glass. Senior Matt Hauser added 11 points for New Paltz, which shot 43.6% (24-for-55) from the field but just 30.3% (10-for-33) in the second half.
New Paltz returns to action Tuesday, Jan. 6, when it hosts Keene State at 7 p.m.
