The Hamilton men's basketball team opened 2014 with a 75-69 loss to visiting SUNY New Paltz Saturday at Margaret Bundy Scott Field House.

The Hawks (4-5), who never trailed, held off a Hamilton rally that saw the Continentals (6-5) pull to within two points with a minute left in regulation. New Paltz didn't allow another basket and converted four free throws to seal the win.

Hamilton scored eight straight points to close to within a basket after trailing 69-59 with 2:40 to go. Matt Hart '16 went three-for-three from the line after being fouled and Greg Newton '14 followed with a three-point basket to make the score 65-59. Joseph Lin '15 stole the Hawks' inbound pass and sank a lay-up to cut New Paltz' advantage to two points.

Keegan Donovan '16 and Taylor Sowah '15 both made a pair of free throws for the Hawks in the final 30 seconds.

Hart led the Continentals with 27 points (two short of his career high), raising his season average to 20.3 ppg. He made nine-of-12 free throws – all in the second half – and added seven rebounds.

R.J. Rosa '15 paced New Paltz with 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. Donovan and Sowah both scored 13 points. Sowah pulled down six rebounds.

The Hawks held Hamilton to six points over the game's first 6:30 and held a six-point lead with eight minutes left in the opening period. The Continentals scored six straight points to tie the score – Peter Kazickas '15 made a pair of lay-ups and Lin added the tying basket – but missed their next two shots that would have put them ahead.

Kazickas finished with eight points and eight rebounds. Bradley Gifford '15 also pulled down eight rebounds as Hamilton outrebounded the Hawks 42-30.

Hamilton continues its home stand Monday, hosting SUNY Cobleskill at 7 p.m. The Hawks play visiting SUNY Cortland in a 6 p.m. game Tuesday.