Hawks Fall to Cardinals in SUNYAC Opener

NEW PALTZ, NY- The SUNY New Paltz men’s basketball team fell to the visiting Cardinals 92-77 (Box Score) Friday night in the Hawk Center. The Hawks fall to 4-3 overall and 0-1 in the SUNYAC. Plattsburgh improves to 6-1 overall and 1-0 in the SUNYAC.

Shereef Taylor led the Hawks with 22 points and four rebounds and Jayquan Anderson and Harris Wichard each recorded 14 points a piece. Nick Taldi chipped in with nine points and four assists and Oppong Agyemang had eight points and eight assists.

Chris Ruiz led the Cardinals with a game-high 34 points and five rebounds. Steve Thomas added 15 points and Errol Daniyan added 11 points and five rebounds.

In the first half the Hawks jumped out to an early 14-8 lead and would hold the lead rest of the half. The biggest lead for the Hawks was seven at 45-38 going into the break.

The second half, the Cardinals quickly tied the game at 51-51 with 16:25 remaining and would take a two point lead on a Ketema Brooks lay-up. With the Cardinals leading 53-51, Plattsburgh extended their lead to 88-66 with a 35-15 run over the next 13 minutes.

The Hawks return to the court tomorrow at 4 p.m. against Potsdam in the Hawk Center.