Box Score

ITHACA, NY- The Hartwick men's basketball team trailed in the opening minutes but recovered to win its five straight contest as it defeated Ithaca College 76-58 on Saturday afternoon at Ben Light Gymnasium. 'Wick has now swept the season series between the two teams for the first time since the 1991-1992 season which was Hartwick's first year in what then was the Empire Athletic Association.

The Hawks improve their record to 12-6 and remain in first place in the Empire 8 with a 7-1 mark. The Bombers, who have dropped their seventh straight game, fall to 4-14 overall and 0-8 in the conference.

"It's the first road weekend sweep we have had all year," said head coach Todd McGuinness following the game. "I'm proud of the guys' effort."

Jared Suderley (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley) and Joey Lufkin (Argyle, NY/Argyle) both scored 20 points each to lead the Hawks. Suderley was 8-of-17 from the floor also added 10 rebounds for his 10^th double-double of the season. Lufkin shot 7-of-18 from the field and hit four out of eight three-point attempts.

Matt Petruccione (Saratoga Springs, NY/Bishop Maginn) and Matt Wilson (Shelton, CT/Franklin and Marshall) scored nine points each. Petruccione added three rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Wilson pulled down six boards.

"Matt Wilson played his best game of the year today," said McGuinness. "Joey and Jared were able to lead us in scoring by taking good shots."

IC was led by Keefe Gitto's 15 points and eight rebounds. Joey Ross had nine points in 22 minutes off the bench.

The home team led in the early moments of the first half as Ithaca held a 12-6 lead at 15:34. A 27-11 'Wick run covering 11 minutes of clock time staked the Hawks out to a 10 point advantage, 33-23, with 4:36 remaining in the period. Hartwick would go into halftime with a 37-28 lead.

The Hawks outscored the Bombers 18-8 in the first frame. 'Wick also had a small lead in field goal percentage 48.5% to 46.4%.

The second half belonged to Hartwick as it never led by more than 10 points. The Hawks increased their lead to 16 points, (44-28) at 18:26. The Bombers twice reduced the deficit to 10 points, once at 16:42, and the final time at 12:36.

A 23-6 'Wick run spanning nine and a half minutes of the contest was the backbreaker for the Bombers as Hartwick led by as much as 27 points, 74-47, with just over three minutes left to play. The Hawks' defense held the Bombers to just one field goal during the span.

Overall, the Hawks were 30-of-66 (45.5%) in field goals to Ithaca's 25-of-61 (41%). In three-point shots, Hartwick was good on 7-of-19 (36.8%) while the Bombers were only 5-of-23 (21.7%).

'Wick ended the game with a 30-18 lead in points in the paint. The Hawks led in rebounds 40-35, and had eight steals to just three for IC.

The Hawks return to Lambros Arena next Friday night for an Empire 8 matchup with Nazareth. Hartwick will be looking to avenge their only conference loss of the season to the Golden Flyers, 86-76, back on January 11. Game time will be at 6 p.m.