ONEONTA, N.Y. - Despite a solid early run from the Oneonta men's basketball team, the Red Dragons fell 82-77 to New Paltz in the SUNYAC opener on Tuesday evening in Dewar Arena. Oneonta (4-1, 0-1 SUNYAC) was only behind 39-38 at the half, but the Hawks (3-2, 1-0 SUNYAC) converted down the stretch to secure the win.

"Tonight reminded us that conference play has a different intensity," head coach Cameron Conover stated. "Give New Paltz credit because they played tough. However, I know we can play better, especially defensively. We'll get back to work tomorrow and prepare for back-to-back conference games this weekend." 

After New Paltz netted the opening basket, senior Michael Ortale Jr. (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem Central) and sophomore Graham Wooden (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta) hit back-to-back triples to take the lead. Oneonta scored the following ten points, with sophomore Caleb Brown (Brooklyn, NY/Uncommon Charter) recording six of them. The Hawks hung around before a Frankie Williams (Bronx, NY/Fannie Lou) three-pointer, and then an Ortale layup gave the Red Dragons a 24-12 lead at 9:24. Sophomore Ryan Teaney (Schenectady, NY/Guilderland) converted an and-one to provide Oneonta with its largest lead at 14-points. 

Oneonta maintained a comfortable advantage until New Paltz's Solomon Neuhaus sank a triple at 5:33. Alex Krupinski brought the game to single digits with a layup. Then Rylan Blondo hit free throws to make it 31-25 at 3:44. Williams scored inside to push the lead to eight, but a Blando triple followed by a fastbreak three-pointer from Neuhaus cut the lead to 33-31. Another three from Blondo at 2:22 gave the Hawks their first lead since the opening basket. Wooden converted a three-point play to regain the lead, but New Paltz scored five points in the final 35 seconds of the half. A last-second basket from senior Joseph Bull (Bronx, NY/Mount St. Michael Academy) made it a one-point contest. 

Layups from Bull and Brown put Oneotna up 42-41, but New Paltz began to gain some momentum. Blondo scored on a fastbreak, and then Neuhaus drained another three. Senior Daniel Derice (Tampa, FL/Wesley Chapel) answered with a triple to tie 49-49. New Paltz then rattled off a 9-0 run and took a 63-54 lead after a Blondo layup at 9:59. The Red Dragons had chances, and Wooden sank a three-pointer before a Derice layup to make it 74-70 with 2:42 remaining. Blondo scored the following two baskets to put the Hawks up by eight. 

Bull scored on the and-one foul in the final minute, but the last pair of free throws from Blondo sealed the Red Dragons' fate. 

Five Oneonta players scored double figures, with Derice netting 16 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Wooden added 15 points and six boards, while Bull recorded 12 points and eight rebounds. Teaney scored a career-high ten points and was 5-for-5 from the free throw line. Ortale added 10 points.

Blondo led all scorers with 32 points behind 9-for-14 shooting, while Neuhaus added 17 points with five three-pointers. 

Oneonta looks to bounce back when they host Plattsburgh State on Fri. Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. in Dewar Arena.