HOBOKEN, NJ - Hartwick's men's basketball lost on the road at Stevens Institute of Technology, 72-57, but the Hawks still punched their first-ever ticket into the Empire 8 playoffs thanks to an Ithaca win over RIT tonight. The Hawks are now 14-9 overall and 9-5 in the Empire 8.

Tonight against the Ducks, the hosts took the lead midway through the first half and never trailed again. Russ Thompson hit 5-of-5 three-point field goals in the first half to help the Ducks to 38-30 lead at the break. Mark Blazek (Erie, PA/Erie Cathedral Prep) paced 'Wick with 10 points in the opening 20 minutes.

Stevens upped its lead to 13 points, 50-37, in the opening six minutes of the second half. Hartwick fought back with eight straight points to make it a five-point game, but that was as close as the Hawks would get. The Ducks scored 11 of the next 15 points and led by double digits over the final four minutes of the contest to secure the win.

Jared Suderley (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley) led Hartwick with 14 points on the night. Blazek ended the game with 13 and Chris Ryder (Port Washington, NY/Port Washington) contributed a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Thompson led all scorers with 23 points which included a 6-of-7 showing from three-point range. Sheldon Jones added 18 points.

The Hawks shot a season-low 35% from the field as a team and made 24% of their shots from long distance. Stevens made 47% of its shots and 53% from beyond the arc. The Ducks also out-rebounded the Hawks, 42-26.

Hartwick, Ithaca, Stevens, and St. John Fisher have all qualified for the conference semifinals. The Hawks can clinch at least the third seed in the upcoming tournament with a victory in one of their two remaining games this weekend. Hartwick hosts Ithaca on Friday night at 8 p.m. and Elmira Saturday at 2 p.m. A sweep of the Bombers and Soaring Eagles coupled with a Stevens win over Ithaca on Saturday would give 'Wick the #2 seed.