ONEONTA, NY - Sophomore guard Mark Blazek (Erie, PA/Erie Cathedral Prep) poured in 32 points as Hartwick survived in overtime 79-74 over Utica on Tuesday night at Clark Athletic Center in Utica. With the win, Hartwick (10-13, 7-8 E8) completes a season sweep of UC, its first since 1999-2000. 'Wick also earns its 10th victory of the season and seventh in the Empire 8. The seven conference wins for the Hawks is the most since the 2000-2001 team won seven. Utica slips to 7-16, and 2-12 in conference play.
Blazek finished the game hitting 12-of-27 from the floor for his second-highest career point total. He netted 35 earlier in the year in a win over Elmira. Shane Tanzosh (Warwick, NY/Warwick) scored 11 points, including a big three-point play in overtime. Martin McCann (Hopewell Junction, NY/Our Lady of Lourdes) registered nine points on three three-pointers and Dan DeVantier (Roscoe, NY/Roscoe) contributed eight points.
Utica received 44 points from James Paterson and Patrick Goodman. Paterson had a team-best 23, with Goodman picking up a double-double with 21 points and 11 boards.
The hosts led for the first 10 minutes of the opening half of play with their biggest lead of eight points (14-6) coming after two Goodman free throws with 14:27 left. Trailing 17-13, a Blazek basket and subsequent free throw pulled the Hawks within one and back-back three's from McCann and Blazek handed 'Wick a five point edge with less than nine minutes to go before the intermission.
The Pioneers managed to tie the score on three occasions in the final eight minutes of the half, but a 5-2 spurt in the last two minutes gave 'Wick a 37-34 lead at the break. Paterson and Blazek led way for their respective teams with Paterson scoring 15 and Blazek netting 14.
Hartwick opened up its biggest lead of the game, 52-42, with 12 and a half minutes to play following a 7-1 run capped by a Blazek jumper. The Hawks' advantage quickly evaporated, however, as the Pioneers rattled off 12 unanswered points to take a 54-52 edge. Blazek would score the next seven straight for the Hawks for a 59-56 'Wick lead but UC would convert a basket and free throw to event the score with six minutes left.
Two Chris Ryder (Port Washington, NY/Port Washington) free throws and a James Mantas (Niskayuna, NY/CBA) layup off a steal put the Hawks up four, 63-59, but a Pioneer three cut the deficit to one. Tanzosh's layup at the 3:15 mark gave 'Wick a 65-62 lead but it marked the final basket for the Hawks in regulation.
Paterson drilled a trey to tie it with just over a minute left and after a Hartwick turnover, the Pioneers had a chance at the go-ahead bucket. A Paterson jumper was off the mark with 15 ticks left, and Blazek's three-point attempt at the horn wouldn't fall forcing an extra five minutes.
Hartwick scored three of the first five points in overtime to grab the lead. A Robert Whyte layup briefly gave the Pioneers a one-point edge, but a Blazek bucket reclaimed the Hawks' advantage, 70-69, with 1:50 to go, and they held onto it the rest of the way. After a Hartwick steal, Tanzosh scored on a layup and sunk the subsequent free throw after a Pioneer foul for a 73-69 edge.
Blazek and Grady Edwards (Stillwater, NY/Stillwater) each provided free throws for a 75-70 lead with 27 seconds to go, but Paterson made it a one-possession game with 15 seconds left with a layup. The Pioneers were forced to foul and Ryder sank a pair from the line to retain the five-point lead. Paterson then converted another basket with four ticks left, but Blazek would put it away from the foul line with his 31st and 32nd point of the night.
The Hawks will close out the regular season on Friday night against RIT (12-11, 8-6 E8). The Hawks and Tigers are set to tip-off at 8 p.m. at Lambros Arena.
