ELMIRA, NY - Mark Blazek (Erie, PA/Erie Cathedral) accounted for nearly half of Hartwick's points on Saturday in a 72-62 win over Elmira. The sophomore guard recorded career-highs of 35 points and eight three-point baskets to lead the Hawks to their fourth win of the season. The victory also evens 'Wick's conference mark at 1-1 heading into the second semester.
Blazek shot 10-of-19 from the floor and connected on 8-of-17 from beyond the three-point arc on the day. He also was perfect from the free-throw line (7-for-7) and dished out four assists. Junior Martin McCann (Hopewell Junction, NY/Our Lady of Lourdes) was the only other Hawk in double figures with 12 points. He also hit four three-pointers in the game. Chris Ryder (Port Washington, NY/Port Washington) and Kyle Phillips (Ashland, MA/Ashland) each added seven points.
Elmira was led by Jon Adamson's 19 points. Bobby DiPiazza contributed 16.
In the first half of play, McCann and Blazek combined for 17 points as Hartwick opened up a 10-point lead, 30-20, with less than three minutes left. Elmira would score cut the lead to seven at the half.
In the second session, Blazek would almost single-handedly break open the game as he knocked down his first six three-point attempts in the opening nine minutes. He nailed five three's in a 22-6 run over an eight minute span that turned a two-point Hartwick edge into an 18-point lead (55-37) with nine minutes left.
The Soaring Eagles clawed their way back into the contest as the Hawks could only manage a Phillips basket and free throw and a McCann trey in the next seven minutes. EC cut the deficit to just five points with 1:46 remaining on an Adamson three-point play, but a jumper from Blazek made it a three-possession game with just over a minute left. He then connected on four straight from the line and Ryder sank three out of four from the stripe to seal the victory.
Hartwick shot 44% from the field as a team and 43% from three-point range. The Hawks also knocked down 92% of its free throws hitting 12-of-13 and earned a 34-28 edge in rebounds over EC.
The Hawks play Oneonta State (4-1) on Tuesday night at Lambros Arena for city bragging rights. 'Wick then travels to Western New England on December 10th and close out the semester on December 12th at Cobleskill.
