Fourteen lead changes highlighted the second half. The Devils took the lead for good when Taha Alassari (Brooklyn/ Sweet Home) drained a 3-point field goal with 8:09 remaining giving the Devils a 51-50 advantage.
New Paltz would claw to within two points in the closing seconds. However, Chris Donahue (Olean) hit a free-throw with 0.9 seconds remaining to put the Blue Devils up by four and seal the deal.
The Blue Devils (6-7, 1-4 SUNYAC) had nine players that figured in the scoring column. Senior guard Mike Kelly (Corning/ Corning East) led the way with 12 points. Alassari and sophomore forward Kyle Gordon (Canandaigua/Canandaigua) scored 11 each. Gordon was also the leading rebounder for Fredonia State with eight.
New Paltz (4-9, 1-4) was lead by junior guard Matt Irwin (Brooklyn/St. Edmund Prep) with 15 points and junior forward Bobby Kaible (Saugerties) with 13 markers. Junior forward John Hauser (East Williston/ Chaminade) had 11 points and 9 rebounds, while senior guard Keith Crichlow (Central Islip) had 10 points for the Hawks.
1-14-06 4 p.m. at Steele Hall, Fredonia, N.Y. At Steele Hall, Fredonia, N.Y. FREDONIA 70, NEW PALTZ 67 NEW PALTZ (4-9, 1-4 SUNYAC) IRWIN, Matt 5-12 2-2 15; KAIBLE, Bobby 4-7 3-4 13; HAUSER, John 4-10 2-2 11; CRITCHLOW, Keith 3-11 3-5 10; LEWIS, Steven 3-5 1-1 7; RICHARDS, Jerome 3-5 0-0 6; SUGRUE, Jimmy 1-2 0-0 3; HAUSER, Matt 1-4 0-0 2; CARTER, John 0-1 0-0 0; ROBINSON, Luke 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-58 11-14 67. FREDONIA (6-7, 1-4 SUNYAC) KELLY, Mike 4-8 0-0 12; ALASSARI, Taha 4-11 1-2 11; GORDON, Kyle 5-8 1-2 11; ANDERSON, Tim 3-6 2-3 9; WATKINS, Devin 2-4 2-2 7; DONAHUE, Chris 1-8 3-4 6; SMITH, Adam 3-6 0-1 6; HARRIS, Dan 2-2 0-0 5; MOORE, Matt 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 25-55 9-14 70. New Paltz..................... 24 43 - 67 Fredonia...................... 27 43 - 70 3-point goals-New Paltz 8-22 (IRWIN, Matt 3-5; KAIBLE, Bobby 2-4; CRITCHLOW, Keith 1-4; HAUSER, John 1-4; SUGRUE, Jimmy 1-2; CARTER, John 0-1; HAUSER, Matt 0-2), Fredonia 11-25 (KELLY, Mike 4-8; ALASSARI, Taha 2-4; HARRIS, Dan 1-1; MOORE, Matt 1-2; DONAHUE, Chris 1-6; WATKINS, Devin 1-2; ANDERSON, Tim 1-2). Fouled out--New Paltz-CRITCHLOW, Keith, Fredonia-None. Rebounds-New Paltz 32 (HAUSER, John 9), Fredonia 37 (GORDON, Kyle 8). Assists-New Paltz 17 (IRWIN, Matt 6), Fredonia 15 (ALASSARI, Taha 5). Total fouls-New Paltz 16, Fredonia 16. A-288