NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Junior forward Matt Devine (Manalapan, N.J./Freehold Township) erupted for a career-high 36 points off 14-of-22 shooting from the floor—including a scintillating 6-of-10 mark from long range—and 2-of-2 shooting from the free-throw line, pacing the State University of New York at New Paltz men's basketball team (4-5, 2-2 SUNYAC) in a 95-74 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) win over SUNY Oneonta (1-8, 0-4 SUNYAC) on Saturday afternoon at the Hawk Center.

After leading by three (40-37) at the half, the Hawks torched the nets in the final 20 minutes of play, going 10-of-16 from three-point range (62.5 percent). The Red Dragons also shot the ball well in the second half, knocking down 15-of-33 shots (45.5 percent), but they were unable to keep up with New Paltz's high-octane offense.

On the game, the Hawks shot 49.3 percent (35-of-71) from the floor and 56.0 percent (14-of-25) from deep. At the line, the team was equally as impressive, going 11-of-12 (91.7 percent). Oneonta shot 44.9 percent (31-of-69) from the field, but it was hurt by 58.3 percent (7-of-12) shooting from the charity stripe. New Paltz dominated the glass, outrebounding the Red Dragons by a 44-30 margin, but it committed 11 turnovers to Oneonta's nine.

The Red Dragons led early, claiming a five-point lead at 7-2 at 18:31 of the first half. New Paltz countered with an 8-0 run, and a three-pointer by freshman guard/forward Matt Pierson (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) at 16:16 of the first half gave the Hawks their first lead of the game. Oneonta responded with an 11-2 run, which was capped off by a Dan Lee layup on a fastbreak. That offensive tear by the Red Dragons gave them their largest lead of the afternoon at eight (20-12).

The Hawks clawed back, though, and they finally recaptured the lead at 9:38 of the first half with a made layup by senior guard/forward Harris Wichard (Merrick, N.Y./Bellmore JFK). The two squads traded blows until the end of the half, and senior center Daniel Olsen's (Stafford Springs, Conn./Wilbraham and Monson Academy) made jumper with 32 seconds left gave New Paltz its three-point halftime lead.

New Paltz scored eight quick points in the first 1:18 of the second half, with Pierson knocking down back-to-back three pointers and Devine converting on a layup. After a Red Dragon timeout, Devine scored five points before Oneonta scored its first basket of the second stanza. The Hawks kept raining threes, as Devine and junior guard Nick Taldi (Merrick, N.Y./Bellmore JFK) nailed back-to-back three-pointers, and a minute later, Devine netted another trey.

New Paltz built up a 22-point lead after a Wichard three-pointer at 13:28 of the second half, and the two teams traded points until senior guard/forward Jamal Lis-Simmons (Highland, N.Y./Highland) gave the Hawks their largest lead of the contest (24) with 6:21 to go in regulation. New Paltz coasted down the stretch, maintaining its distance from Oneonta on the scoreboard.

In addition to his 36 points, Devine had seven rebounds. His six three-point field goals shattered his previous career-high of two, which he achieved six times prior to Saturday's game. Taldi joined Devine in double figures with 16 points and added a career-high six assists, two rebounds and a steal. Olsen held the game-high in rebounds with 10 coming off the bench, and freshman forward/center Alan Siergiej (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph by-the-Sea) and Lis-Simmons each had a block.

Lukas Slivinsky keyed the Red Dragon attack with 15 points off 6-of-12 shooting from the floor and 1-of-2 shooting from the line coming off the bench. Frankie Kelly fell just short of the coveted triple-double, collecting nine points, nine assists and eight rebounds. Cameron Boyden patrolled the paint defensively for Oneonta with three blocks, and Kevin Donahue also caused problems for the Hawks with two steals.

New Paltz is idle during the winter Intercession break, but it rings in 2012 on Tuesday, Jan. 3, when it takes on non-conference St. John Fisher College in Rochester, N.Y.