NEW PALTZ, N.Y. - The Oneonta men's basketball team had three players score in double digits on the way to a 58-51 victory over New Paltz on Saturday afternoon. The Red Dragons (4-6, 1-2 SUNYAC) earned their first conference win of the season, while the Hawks (8-2, 2-1) suffered their first loss. 

"Tonight was a physical game and I was proud of our guys' toughness throughout," said head coach Cameron Conover. "Every game is going to be a battle in the SUNYAC. Our guys stayed together and really accepted the challenge and played tough defense. It was a great team effort and we will get back to work tomorrow."

Senior Graham Wooden (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta) drained a three to start a 9-0 Oneonta run to begin the game. A pair of free throws from junior Caleb Brown (Brooklyn, NY/Uncommon Charter) and a three-pointer from junior Xavier Hill (Johnson City, NY/Johnson City) pushed the Red Dragons ahead 14-3.

It was a low-scoring first half, but New Paltz pulled within single digits, and Ryan Blondo scored on the fast break to cut the Oneonta lead to 15-9. Kobe Bogart sank a trey at 4:58 before sophomore Elijah Castillo (Bronx, NY/St. Raymonds) netted a jumper to make it a five-point game. 

The Hawks rattled off a 7-0 run to take their first lead, and then Wooden scored to tie 19-19. New Paltz's Tyreik Frazier scored the final basket of the half to make it 21-19 at the break. 

New Paltz opened the second with four unanswered points to take a 25-19 lead at 18:37. The Hawks continued to build up to a 33-23 lead. At 13:29, Castillo converted an inside layup, and then three-pointers from Hill and freshman Mohammad Sylla (Bronx, NY/Darrow) brought the score within two points. Freshman Elijah Morris (Mount Vernon, NY/Mount Vernon) converted an and-one at 11:40 to make it 35-34. 

New Paltz held a narrow lead until a Castillo jump shot was followed by another three from Hill to tie 39-39 with 9:31 remaining.

Both sides traded leads, and the Hawks went up by five after a layup from Sean St. Lucia. Back-to-back Oneonta threes from Wooden and Morris gave the Red Dragons a 47-46 lead. New Paltz would regain the lead until a 6-0 Oneonta run pushed the advantage to seven points. A.J. Knight hit a triple with 39 seconds left to cut the lead to four, but final free throws from Castillo and Wooden sealed the win. 

Castillo led the way with 15 points and added seven rebounds, four assists, and one steal. Wooden scored 12 points with two triples, five rebounds, and three steals. Hill netted ten points, and Caleb Brown (Brooklyn, NY/Uncommon Charter) grabbed ten boards. 

New Paltz's Knight scored 11 points, and Bogart added ten with eight rebounds. 

Oneonta returns home on Tue. Jan. 9 to face No. 10 Oswego at 7:30 p.m. in Dewar Arena.