ONEONTA, N.Y. – Hartwick defended home court behind a career night from Mike Gitz, riding a barrage of threes and a season-best playmaking effort to snap a decade-long home drought against Morrisville.

THE BASICS
Final Score: SUNY Morrisville 87, Hartwick 96
Location: Oneonta, NY | Lambros Arena
Records: SUNY Morrisville (1-4, 0-0 SUNYAC)  Hartwick (4-3, 0-0 Empire 8)

BY THE NUMBERS

• Mike Gitz exploded for a career-high 29 points on ultra-efficient shooting, hitting 69% from the field and 60% from three.

• The Hawks snapped their cold streak against the Mustangs with a complete team performance, earning their first home win over Morrisville since 2012 after dropping the previous four matchups.

• Hartwick dished out a season-high 23 assists, showcasing crisp ball movement. Kesean Leonard and Xymier Thomas fueled the effort with career-highs as Leonard led with seven and Thomas followed with five.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hawks returned to Lambros Arena following a thrilling pre-break win over Saint Elizabeth and aimed to keep that momentum rolling against Morrisville.

Hartwick opened on fire, punching in a 12-point burst behind three straight triples from Mike Gitz (Commack, N.Y.). The Mustangs eventually settled in, tying the game at 16 with 11 minutes left, but Kesean Leonard (Rochester, N.Y.) answered with timely buckets at all three levels to regain control. Morrisville's outside shooting kept them within reach, yet Gitz continued carving up the defense with backdoor cuts and deep strikes. Robby Lucas (Clarks Summit, Pa.) closed the half with back-to-back threes as the Hawks knocked down eight triples and held the lead for 19 minutes of the first frame.

The second half opened the same way with Gitz catching fire to begin the final half. After sinking two free throws, he drilled two more bombs from deep to extend the lead to 14. Leonard and Lucas stayed hot from long range, and Shane MiCallef (Warwick, N.Y.) joined the surge with back-to-back threes to push the advantage to 18. Morrisville made one final run, but late buckets from Leonard and Malachi Polson (Bay Shore, N.Y.) shut the door, securing Hartwick's unbeaten home start and a strong non-conference win over the Mustangs.

UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKS
The Hawks will return to Lambros Arena to host the Raptors of Bard College on December 30th at 5PM.

About Hartwick College:
Hartwick, often referred to as The Life Balance College, is a private liberal arts and sciences institution in Oneonta, N.Y. Through its distinctive FlightPath approach, Hartwick blends academic excellence, career preparation and an active campus life to help students achieve a balanced and fulfilling college experience. With transparent tuition and a focus on health and wellness, Hartwick prepares students for lifelong success—both professionally and personally.