ONEONTA, N.Y. — The Hartwick Men's basketball team clawed back from a 10-point halftime deficit and made it a one-possession game late before Utica survived in Empire 8 play on Tuesday night at Lambros Arena.
THE BASICS
Final Score: Utica 70 Hartwick 61
Location: Oneonta, NY | Lambros Arena
Records: Utica (10-3, 3-1 Empire 8) • Hartwick (6-7, 0-4 Empire 8)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Hartwick geared up to host the back-to-back league champion Utica Pioneers in the opening game of a six-game homestand after playing their first three conference contests on the road.
Utica struck first with a three-pointer before Mike Gitz (Commack, N.Y.) answered right back from beyond the arc. Another Pioneer triple jump-started their offense as Hartwick searched for a spark, fueled by Gitz and Robby Lucas (Clarks Summit, PA). While the Hawks worked to match Utica's tempo, the Pioneers' continued success inside made cutting into the deficit difficult. Xymier Thomas (Binghamton, N.Y.) made his presence felt in the paint with strong, physical finishes to provide a lift, while Joey McLaurin (Mastic Beach, N.Y.) weaved through the defense for an interior bucket. Lucas later connected on his first three of the night, but Utica carried a 10-point advantage into the break.
Hartwick opened the second half with a score from Keegan Paolillo (Clearwater, FL), though Utica continued to impose its will inside to maintain its lead. Paolillo stayed aggressive attacking the rim alongside Kesean Leonard (Rochester, NY), while Malachi Polson (Bay Shore, N.Y.) chipped away with midrange jumpers. The Hawks began to push the pace behind strong rebounding efforts, highlighted by Lucas corralling 10 boards to secure his second double-double of the season. Hartwick found its rhythm from deep as Lucas and Gitz knocked down triples before Polson buried a clutch jumper to pull the Hawks within one possession with under six minutes to play.
Foul trouble ultimately stalled the comeback, as Utica capitalized at the free-throw line while in the bonus. The Pioneers went 13-for-16 from the stripe down the stretch to withstand the Hawks' late surge and escape with the conference win.
UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKS
The Hawks will host the Alfred Saxons for a conference matchup on Friday, January 17th at 7:30 PM.
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.
