GENESEO, N.Y. – The Geneseo men’s basketball team (13-5, 9-2 SUNYAC) won for the 11th time in 13 games, strengthening its first-place standing in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC), beating visiting New Paltz (6-11, 4-6 SUNYAC) 76-61 Friday.

Junior guard Thomas Decker (White Plains/Archbishop Stepanic) scored a career-high 19 points and added three assists and two steals. Junior guard Connor Fedge (Bellport/Bellport) collected 14 points and five assists. Senior forward Ryan Riefenhauser (Dobbs Ferry/Dobbs Ferry) finished with nine points and five assists and pulled down 13 rebounds – one short of his career high.

Sophomore forward Gordon Lyons (Amherst/Canisius) scored 11 of his 13 points from the free throw line and pulled down eight rebounds/ Sophomore forward James McKenna (Huntington/St. Anthony’s) came off the bench to score 10 points. McKenna, Decker and sophomore guard Connor Rogers (Liverpool/Liverpool) each finished with three assists; the Knights, who rank third in the nation in assists per game, collected assists on all but one of their 22 baskets.

The Knights opened up a 15-point halftime lead, shooting 53.6 percent from the floor (they rank third nationally in field-goal percentage). Late in the second period the Hawks used a 9-4 run to pull within nine points with 3:31 to go but got no closer and Geneseo regained its double-digit advantage less than minute later. The Knights made 21 of 29 free throw attempts in the second half.

Geneseo conducted its annual Faculty Recognition Night, honoring Dr. Aaron Heap (mathematics) and Dr. Mary Mohan(communication).

The Knights conclude their four-game home stand Saturday, hosting Oneonta at 4 p.m.

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