(BOX SCORE)

NEW PALTZ, NY— New Paltz (5-4/1-2) mounted a second-half surge and erased a 21-point deficit to defeat visiting Buffalo State (6-3/1-2), 86-85, tonight in a SUNYAC contest.

Jake Simmons (Rochester/School for the Arts) led the Bengals with 22 points. Chris Cartwright (Binghamton/Binghamton) added 20 points, four assists and three steals. Glenroy Carr (New York/Sweet Home) tallied 13 points, and Ahmed Nagaya (Bronx/Astor Collegiate) chipped in 10.

Buffalo State led by as many as 21 points in the first half, and held a 49-40 advantage at the intermission. The Bengals pushed the lead back to as many as 15 in the second half, before New Paltz clawed back into the game. The Hawks hit a jumper for the game's final basket with 54 seconds remaining, and the Bengals missed four free throws in the final minute, including a pair with four seconds remaining. Buffalo State was 19 of 37 (51%) from the charity stripe for the game.

Buffalo State will remain on the road tomorrow for a 4 p.m. conference game at Oneonta.