Composure and Defense Lift Hawks past The Mount

NEWBURGH, NY- The SUNY New Paltz men’s basketball team opened the 2009-2010 season with a 60-56 (Box Score) victory over Mount Saint Mary College on the road Wednesday night at the Kaplan Center. It was the first time the two teams squared off since the 2005-06 season, when the Hawks (1-0) defeated the Blue Knights 63-57.

“I am very proud the way my guys played tonight” said head coach Dagan Nelson. “They played together on defense and kept their composure down the stretch to earn this victory.”

Sophomore Harris Wichard hit two 3-pointers in the final minute to give the Hawks with 20 seconds remaining in the game. Freshman Matt Devine sealed the game with two free throws with two seconds remaining and finished with six points and three assists.

Sophomore Shereef Taylor netted a game-high 21 points and added six rebounds, three assists and four steals for the Hawks. Sophomore Jayquan Anderson (Bronx/Frederick Douglas Academy) chipped in with 10 points and four rebounds.

Matt Weinberger led the Blue Knights with 10 points and added five assists and four steals. Kevin Milella and Tim Morris each netted eight points a piece and Morris added seven rebounds. The Blue Knights fall to 1-1 overall on the season.

The Hawks trailed by as many as 12 points in the second half, but over a 7:36 span, the Hawks were able to cut the lead to one point with 1:02 remaining. A Wichard three-pointer gave the Hawks their first lead since the 18:54 mark in the second half.

The Hawks return to the court Friday, November 20 at 8 p.m. against St. Joe’s (LI) in the opening round of the Rino’s Pizza Tip-Off Tournament held at the Hawk Center on the campus of SUNY New Paltz.