Tyler Roberts (photo by Ron Szot)
Things did not start out well for the Fredonia State men's basketball team as they quickly fell behind 14-0 to New Paltz on Saturday. But things ended pretty well, with the Devils claiming an 86-72 victory over the Hawks.
Four players provided nearly all the offense for the Devils. Tyler Roberts and Moussa Samassa both scored 20. Samassa was perfect on seven attempts from the floor.
Dydy Bryan had 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting, and De'Quan Smith finished with 17. Colden George, with six, and Kreem George, with four, were the only other Devils to score.
Samassa added 14 rebounds and Bryan had four assists. The Devils – who started the game 0-for-6 -- shot a sizzling 54 percent from the floor as a team.
New Paltz made its first four three-point attempts, and added another basket to jump out to its 14-0 lead.
The Devils trailed 20-4, but would eventually take a 36-34 lead. The lead would come on the heels of 10-0 run. The Hawks would score the final seven points of the half to take back the lead, 41-36, going into the intermission.
New Paltz would hold the lead until back-to-back three pointers by Roberts would tie the game at 44 at the 15:52 mark. Smith and Bryan converted layups on the next two possessions to push the Devils' lead to 48-44.
New Paltz would take its final lead of the game, 54-53, after a jumper by Jake Passaretti with 13:26 remaining.
Over the next six-and-a-half minutes, Fredonia would outscore the Hawks, 15-1, to take a 13-point lead, 68-55. They would lead by double digits the rest of the way.
New Paltz (1-8 SUNYAC / 5-11 overall) was led by Passaretti with 18 points and four assists. RJ Meyers-Turner added 14.
The Devils improved to 3-5 in the SUNYAC and 7-8 overall.
