DANBURY, Conn. - Senior guard Matthew Turner (Trumbull, Conn.) scored a game-high 20 points, but Western Connecticut State University dropped an 86-79 decision to visiting New Paltz in the opening round of the WestConn Holiday Tournament at Feldman Arena on Wednesday afternoon.

Turner scored 15 of his 20 points in the second half, but was hampered with foul trouble down the stretch for WestConn, which drops to 6-4 on the season.  The hosts will play either Cabrini or William Paterson in the consolation game at 1 pm on Thursday.

New Paltz, now 5-3, had all five starters score in double figures with Solomon Neuhaus (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) leading the way with 18 points.  Sophomore guard Ryan Blondo (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added 16 points while dishing out a game-high seven assists.  Lucas Seyoum (Clifton Park, N.Y.) and Tyreik Frazier (Westbury, N.Y.) added 13 and 12 points respectively while Sean St. Lucia (Niskayuna, N.Y.) tossed in 10 points for the winners.

The Hawks will face either the Cavaliers or Pioneers in the championship game at 11 am tomorrow.

The contest was tight throughout with New Paltz enjoying its largest lead of nine points, 44-35, following a pair of free throws from Seyoum with 1:16 remaining before half-time.

WestConn senior Ahmod Privott (Middletown, Conn.) cut the Hawks lead down to two points, 46-44 with a three-point bucket in the opening seconds of the final stanza.

After a pair of lead changes and six deadlocks over the first 20 minutes, New Paltz led the entire second half.

Ryan Alkins (Queens, N.Y.) and Privott added 13 and 10 points, respectively for WestConn.

Solomon Silas (Danbury, Conn.) hauled down a game-high 11 rebounds and was one of four WestConn players with eight markers.