Box Score

NEWBURGH, N.Y. – Senior guard Joe Stabach (Staten Island, N.Y.) had the hot hand on Tuesday, scoring 23 points en route to the Mount Saint Mary College men's basketball team's (3-2) 71-57 victory over local rival SUNY New Paltz (2-3) on Tuesday at the Kaplan Center.

Stabach shot 50 percent (8-of-16) from the field in Tuesday's win, including 5-of-11 (45.5 percent) from long range. His 23 points are a season high. Senior forward Joe Henain (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) lit up the stat sheet with 12 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks.

The Knights took the lead in the first minute of the game, and managed to hold it for the entirety of the game. Stabach opened with a layup, and then senior guard Donte Howell (Baldwin, N.Y.) drained a three to take a quick 5-0 lead. The Knights pulled out to a 25-10 lead late in the first half, closing out the frame with a 33-20 advantage. Stabach scored 15 of his 23 points in the first stanza.

The Hawks put up five quick points to open the second half and cut into the Knight lead, but a Stabach three quickly ended the short run. Sophomore guard Stephen Steyer (Staten Island, N.Y.) sank a layup with 4:30 remaining to give the Knights an 18-point lead at 60-40, their largest lead of the game. The Hawks outscored the Knights, 17-11 down the stretch, but it was not enough as the Knights grabbed the 14-point win.

Senior forward Chris Pisciotta (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) had a solid game with 11 points and five boards, while Howell scored nine and dished out a season-high nine assists.

New Paltz was led by Nick Taldi, who scored 12 points off the bench. Andrew Seniuk and Kewan Beebe followed with nine points each. Taylor Sowah picked up eight points and a team-high eight boards.

The Knights shot 45.1 percent (23-of-51) on the evening, while the Hawks were successful on just 30.8 percent of their field goals (20-of-65). New Paltz saw much of its scoring come from its reserves, as the Hawks outscored the Knights, 33-14, in bench points.

The Knights return to action on Saturday, Nov. 30, when they travel to the University of Scranton for a non-conference matchup. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.

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