NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz men's basketball team (3-5) lost to non-conference Montclair State University (6-2), 84-63, on Thursday evening at the Hawk Center despite a 22-point night from senior guard/forward Harris Wichard (Merrick, N.Y./Bellmore JFK).

Wichard tied for the game-high with his 22 points scored, shooting 7-of-13 from the field and 4-of-7 from three-point range. Junior forward Matt Devine (Manalapan, N.J./Freehold Township) notched a double-double, scoring 10 points while bringing down 14 rebounds. Devine tied for the Hawk-high in assists with three, matching the totals of freshman forward/center Alan Siergiej (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph by-the-Sea) and junior guard Shalik Jenkins (Brooklyn, N.Y./Boys and Girls). Siergiej had three blocks for the Hawks.

For the Red Hawks, Andrew August matched Wichard's game-high 22 points, shooting 7-of-17 from the floor. August also tied Devine for the game-high in rebounds, with 14. Ken Rubenstein followed August closely with 21 points, while Daniel Singleton added 14 points. Ordel Goldson blocked four Hawk shots.

The Hawks had difficulty maintaining possession of the basketball, turning it over 18 times over the duration of the game. The Red Hawks were able to score 26 points off of turnovers, compared to New Paltz's nine points scored off 10 Montclair State turnovers. Montclair State's speed and full-court game also played a significant role in the game, leading to seven fastbreak buckets. New Paltz only managed to score on one fastbreak opportunity.

It took nearly two minutes for either team to get on the scoreboard, until Montclair State's Brian Flores opened the scoring with a fastbreak layup with 18:03 remaining in the first half. The Hawks took one of their two leads of the game one minute later, when Wichard hit his first three-pointer of the evening put the Hawks up, 3-2. Back-to-back threes from freshman guard/forward Matt Pierson (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) gave New Paltz its biggest lead of the evening, 9-4, with 15:27 to play in the first half.

The score was tied with 13:01 remaining in the first, thanks to a tip-in by Montclair State's Goldsen. The Red Hawks did not look back after that, quickly opening up a double-digit lead that sank the Hawks.

The Hawks lowered the deficit from its second-half high of 30 down to a 20-point margin with 2:29 remaining in the game with a junior guard Nick Taldi (Merrick, N.Y./Bellmore JFK) three to bring the score to 82-62, but by then, the game had long been decided.

All 10 players to suit up for New Paltz saw playing time, including the career debut of freshman guard Josh Engler (Newtown, Conn./Newtown), who scored four points in six minutes of action.

The Hawks return to conference action on Saturday, Dec. 10, when they take on SUNY Oneonta in the Hawk Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.