ROCHESTER, NY- Four Hawks scored in double figures as the Hartwick men's basketball team led from start to finish and defeated Nazareth 83-65 on Friday night. Hartwick has now won nine straight and improves its record to 21-2 overall and 10-2 in the Empire 8. Nazareth falls to 15-8 overall and 8-4 in the Empire 8.
Jared Suderley (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley) led 'Wick with 25 points and 10-of-15 shooting. He also added six rebounds. Anthony Keane (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) scored a career-high 19 points while shooting 8-of-12 from the floor and was an assist short of a double-double with nine. He added three steals. Mike Geisser (East Hanover, NJ/Hanover Park) had 15 points and seven rebounds. Chris Ryder (Port Washington, NY/Port Washington) had his seventh double-double of the year as he scored 12 points and pulled down 14 rebounds.
Nazareth was led by Jason Corletta who had 17 points. Tyshun Stephens contributed 12 points and Brad Ford chipped in 11 points.
"It was a great job by our guys tonight," said head coach Todd McGuinness. "Chris, Jared, Anthony, and Mike all did a good job of making their shots. Christian Laputka (Freeland, PA/Hazleton Area) gave us great energy and made some key plays off the bench. It's a great road win against a really great opponent."
Hartwick raced out to the early lead and never looked back as it led by as much as 11 points, 17-6, at just under the 15 minute mark of the first half. The Hawks defense kept the Golden Flyers off balance as they shot only 38.2% from the field in the first. Nazareth would twice cut the Hawk lead to eight points with the final time coming at 8:37, but Hartwick would withstand the Golden Flyer threat scoring three straight buckets to close out the half and lead 45-30.
'Wick would stay out in front by double-digits for all but 44 seconds in the second half as they would never let up against the Golden Flyers. Keane scored 13 of his 19 points in the second to lead the way for the Hawks.
Hartwick shot a season-best 60% from the floor and made just under 43% of its three-point shots. Nazareth was held to 32.4 % from the floor and 28.1% from beyond the three-point arc. The Hawks led in rebounds, 38-34.
Hartwick remains tied with Stevens for first place in the Empire 8. The Hawks will next face St. John Fisher tomorrow afternoon at 4 pm.
