NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Senior guard/forward Taylor Sowah (Bronx, N.Y./Miller Place) became the 19th men's basketball student-athlete to score 1,000 career points, as the State University of New York at New Paltz defeated SUNY Fredonia, 70-57, in the season finale for both teams Saturday afternoon at the Hawk Center in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action.
 
Sowah, who was competing in the final contest of his collegiate career, scored a game-high 19 points to push his career total to 1,018. He entered the game needing just one point to achieve the milestone, and he surpassed 1,000 career points on his first basket just 43 seconds into the game. Sowah is the fourth student-athlete to score his 1,000th career point under fourth-year head coach Mike Rejniak, joining Matt Devine, Shereef Taylor and Nick Taldi.
 
New Paltz had little trouble with Fredonia, trailing just once the entire game. The Hawks limited the Blue Devils to 37 percent (20-of-54) shooting from the field for the contest, including a 16.7 percent (3-of-18) mark from long range. Fredonia did, however, hold a slight 43-42 edge in rebounds, but the visitors were done in by the Hawks' 44.6 percent (29-of-65) shooting from the floor, which included a 51.6 percent (16-of-31) mark in the first half.
 
The Hawks finish their season at 11-14 and 9-9 in the SUNYAC, marking just the second time in 16 years that the program has achieved at least a .500 record in conference play. Fredonia closes out 2014-15 at 2-22 overall and 1-17 in SUNYAC play.
 
Fredonia scored the first point of the game off a free throw by freshman center Tremaine Shelton, but Sowah countered on the Hawks' next possession with a made layup. From that point forward, New Paltz never trailed.
 
The Blue Devils made it a one-point game twice midway through the first half, but a 9-0 Hawk run that was capped off by a 3-pointer by junior guard Keegan Donovan (Groton, N.Y./Groton) gave the home team a 32-18 lead. Both teams traded baskets until Donovan scored with two seconds left in the half to give New Paltz a 40-28 advantage heading into the locker rooms.
 
The outcome of the game was never in question in the second half, as the Hawks led by double digits the entire period. New Paltz constructed its largest lead of the game twice (21 points) midway through the half, with each occurrence coming off a made basket by sophomore forward Andrew Seniuk (Wantagh, N.Y./MacArthur).
 
Sowah notched his 11th double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while senior guard/forwardR.J. Rosa (North Branch, N.Y./Sullivan West), Seniuk and senior guard/forward Jarrelle Dixon (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Poughkeepsie) chipped in with 12, 11 and 10 points, respectively. Seniuk's total came in reserve duty, while Dixon enjoyed a strong game in his final intercollegiate competition, notching career-highs in points, rebounds (4) and assists (1). Rosa filled out the box score with nine rebounds, four assists and two steals.
 
Junior guard Robert Lyles led Fredonia with 14 points off 5-of-11 shooting from the floor, while Shelton finished with seven rebounds and three blocks.