PITTSFORD, NY – Alfred University outscored Hartwick's men's basketball team 16-5 over the final six minutes to claim a 79-72 victory over the Hawks in an Empire 8 semifinal played at St. John Fisher's Manning and Napier Gymnasium. The loss ends the Hawks' season with a final record of 15-11.
           
In the first half, the Saxons bolted out to a 12-2 lead after just three minutes of action. But the Hawks settled in and clamped down on defense as they outscored the Saxons 36-17 over the next 15 minutes and took a 43-35 lead into the break.
           
Justin Pratt (North Kingstown, RI/North Kingstown) and Trevor Norton (Mullica Hill, NJ/Ursinus College) combined for 26 of the Hawks' first half points. Pratt hit four three-pointers and led the way with 14 points with Norton netting 12.
           
'Wick shot 51.7% (15-for-29) from the field in the opening 20 minutes and limited AU to just 36.4% shooting. The Hawks also controlled the glass, 22-16.
           
In the second half, Hartwick opened up its biggest lead of the game, 45-35, after Matt Wilson's (Shelton, CT/Franklin & Marshall College) layup. The Saxons, however, quickly trimmed their deficit to four points, 45-41, thanks to a 6-0 run. The Saxons tied it at 50 seconds later and took the lead, 52-50, with under 14 minutes to go.
           
'Wick trailed by one, 58-57, but seven straight Hawk points, with Joey Lufkin (Argyle, NY/Argyle) registering four and Norton three, and Hartwick was back on top by a 63-57 margin.
           
AU managed to tie the score before the Hawks went back in front by four, 67-63, with six minutes to go. Unfortunately for the Hawks, it would be their last point for the next four and a half minutes as the Saxons went on a 9-0 run to earn a 72-67 advantage. The closest the Hawks would get the rest of the way would be three.
           
Two Norton free throws made it 75-72 with 1:25 left to go. A long three-pointer from the top of the key from Alfred's Tyler Seelman with 51 ticks left built the AU lead back to six and the Saxons led by at least four the rest of the way to seal up a spot in the E8 title game.
           
Norton led all scorers for Hartwick with 24 points. Lufkin and Pratt each had 17 points. Norton also tied for game-highs with nine rebounds and five assists. Pratt added eight boards and a game-high five three's. Lufkin dished out five assists.
             
Jake Sinicki (Endicott, NY/Maine-Endwell) contributed eight points and nine rebounds. Wilson closed the night with four points, nine rebounds, and two blocks.
           
Seelman led Alfred with 19 points and four three-pointers. Julian Reinhart added 13 and six, and Eric Adams added 11 points and eight boards.
           
The Hawks finished the game shooting 42.4% (25-for-59) from the floor. They hit 11 three-pointers but struggled all night from the free-throw line hitting only 55% (11-for-20). The Hawks had the edge on the glass, 42-36.
           
Alfred, which won its ninth straight game tonight, made 42.9% of its shots. The Saxons turned 13 Hartwick turnovers into 23 points on the night.