NEW PALTZ, NY– The SUNY New Paltz men’s basketball team fell to St. Joseph’s at the Hawks Center by a score of 84-80 in the Rino’s Pizza Tip-Off Tournament.
New Paltz showed their presence early in the contest executing up and down the floor capitalizing on the fast breaks. Sophomores Jayquan Anderson and Harris Wichard each netted 12 points in the first half. Sophomore Nick Taldi came up clutch hitting three key 3-pointers to give the Hawks the momentum going into the second half, making it 47-41 at the half.
The Hawks came out in the second half aggressive maintaining a comfortable lead. The Hawks established the lead the entire half till St. Joe’s tied it up with 1:52 left on the clock. St. Joe’s senior Jermaine Russell got his team back in the game scoring 21 points alone in the second half.
Jermaine Russell carried the Eagles scoring a game-high 33 points and added 13 rebounds, three blocks, and two steals. Chris Jimenez scored 12 points and Alvin Dennis added nine points. The Eagles improve to 1-0 on the season and advance to the championship game at 8 pm against Bridgewater State.
Anderson led the hawks in scoring with 22 points and Taldi added 21. Senior Oppong Agyemang found the open man adding a game-high eleven assists. Wichard had 17 points and recorded 13 rebounds.
The Hawks fall to 1-1 on the season and return to the court at 3 pm when they take on Lehman College in the consolation game.
Release by: Tyler Terlecky
