ONEONTA, NY- Jared Suderley (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley) scored 33 points on 13-for-19 shooting to lead the Hartwick men's basketball team to an 87-81 victory over visiting Utica on Saturday night at Lambros Arena. The win improves the Hawks' record to 13-2 overall and 2-2 in the Empire 8. Utica falls to 4-10 overall and 0-4 in the Empire 8.
Suderley was one rebound shy of a double-double as he had nine boards. Mark Blazek (Erie, PA/Erie Cathedral Prep) scored 28 points and grabbed five rebounds. Chris Ryder (Port Washington, NY/Port Washington) chipped in nine points and secured 14 rebounds.
Reggie German led the Pioneers with 25 points. Jeff Ward contributed 19 points and Chris Jeffers chipped in 12 points and had a team-high 15 rebounds.
The first half was a close affair as the lead changed seven times and the game was tied eight times. The Pioneers started to break away late in the half as a 12-4 run gave them a six-point lead, 40-34, with 4:21 remaining. An 8-2 Hartwick run, however, capped by a Blazek three-pointer, tied the game at 42-all going into halftime.
The Hawks late first half run carried over into the second half as they made their first three shots to increase their lead to 49-43. The Pioneers would stay in the game as the Hartwick lead grew no larger than four points. Utica eventually would go up by six points at 72-66 after a three from German with 7:19 left on the clock. Back-to-back Anthony Keane (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) layups made it a one possession game and Suderley sank three straight three-pointers to put 'Wick up 79-74 with a little over four minutes left.
Ryder's two free throws gave Hartwick an 81-74 advantage at 3:51. Back-to-back German layups closed the gap and it was 83-81 at 1:30. It was as close as the Pioneers would get as the Hawks converted four of six free throws in the final minute to pull away for the victory.
"We played a hard-fought, tough, physical game and our guys came through in the end for the win," remarked head coach Todd McGuinness. "Jared was great in the second half and hit some big threes. Mark played a great game and hit some big shots. After last year in our league, everyone is gunning for us and no game is going to be an easy game."
Overall there were 12 lead changes in the game and the score was tied 14 times. Hartwick converted 43.2% of its field goals and just over 30% of its three-point attempts. Utica made 47.8% of its field goals and only 20% of its three-point shots. The Hawks came up big on the foul line by going 13-of-16 (81.3%) in free throws compared to Utica's 12-for-22 (54.5%).
'Wick continues its home stand next Friday when it hosts St. John Fisher at 8 p.m.
