Hawks Fall to Local Rival Vassar

NEW PALTZ, NY — Playing its final non-conference game of the season, the SUNY New Paltz men’s basketball team dropped a 71-61 decision to Vassar this evening at Elting Gym.

Paced by three players in double figures, the Brewers (4-16) picked up their fourth win of the season and their second non-league victory in a week. Junior guard Jud Winton (San Francisco, CA) led Vassar with 18 points and junior guard Matt Williams (Sanford, FL) added 16 for the visitors.

After a slow start, Vassar used a 16-0 run in the first half to build a 34-20 lead with two minutes to play. The Brewers were keyed by Williams and Winton who combined for 24 of Vassar’s 34 first half points. New Paltz, who hit five of its first 10 shots from the floor, went just 4-of-18 in the final 15 minutes of the half and dug themselves a 34-22 hole at the half.

SUNY New Paltz (5-15) trailed by double figures for a good portion of the second half. The Hawks managed to climb to within six at the 3:11 mark when freshman guard Matt Irwin (Brooklyn, NY) hit a three-point field goal to make it 56-50. Williams however answered on the next possession with his fourth, three-point field goal of the game to push the Vassar lead back to nine.

Freshman forward Amseshem Foluke-Henderson (Jamaica, NY) led all scorers with 21 points. Senior guard Jayvard Smith (Hempstead, NY) was also in double figures and finished with 12 points.