HOUGHTON, N.Y. — The Hartwick Men's Basketball team posted a strong team effort to take down Houghton, using solid three level scoring to down the Highlanders in Empire 8 conference action on Friday night.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Hartwick 80 Houghton 56
Location: Houghton, NY | The Nielsen Center
Records: Hartwick (9-14 3-11 Empire 8) • Houghton (6-17, 3-11 Empire 8)

BY THE NUMBERS

• Hartwick's bench unit shined bright, posting 50 points in the effort.

• Four Hawks hit double figures as Robby Lucas paced the offense with 12 points.

• The Hawks posted their second best rebounding performance in a conference contest with 45 as Mike Gitz and Jackson Frame (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) led the efforts with new career-bests seven rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hawks looked to keep their momentum rolling after delivering their top offensive performance of the season, a 100-point overtime victory over Elmira in Hartwick's final home game.
 

The Blue and White traveled to face the Houghton Highlanders, who opened the scoring with back-to-back buckets. Kesean Leonard (Rochester, N.Y.) put Hartwick on the board, followed by an interior finish from Xymier Thomas (Binghamton, N.Y.). Houghton maintained a narrow edge early before strong two-man action from Keegan Paolillo (Clearwater, Fla.) and TJ Etienne (Boynton Beach, Fla.) trimmed the deficit to one possession.

First-year standout Robby Lucas (Clarks Summit, Pa.) buried his first three-pointer of the evening to give Hartwick its first lead, but Houghton quickly answered from deep. Samaj Barnwell (Stockbridge, Ga.) sparked a late first-half surge, drilling a game-tying three with under two minutes remaining. Paolillo converted inside off a Barnwell assist, and Barnwell closed the half with another triple to send the Hawks into the break with a four-point advantage.

Paolillo led Hartwick in the opening half with eight points on a perfect 3-for-3 from the field and a clean trip to the free-throw line. Barnwell followed with seven, while first-years Lucas and Etienne added five apiece. Sharpshooter Mike Gitz (Commack, N.Y.) anchored the glass with five rebounds at halftime.

Houghton regained momentum to start the second half, briefly reclaiming the lead before Joey McLaurin (Mastic Beach, N.Y.) knocked down a clutch three-pointer. Etienne followed with the go-ahead bucket, and McLaurin added a coast-to-coast finish off a defensive rebound to force a Highlander timeout.

From there, the Hawks seized control.

Malachi Polson (Bay Shore, N.Y.) ignited the surge, disrupting passing lanes and converting turnovers into points. He connected from beyond the arc, followed by a signature three from Gitz. Etienne attacked the rim for consecutive scores, and Gitz and Polson each buried another triple as Hartwick caught fire.

Leonard added to the scoring flurry before Lucas tallied two interior finishes and a three-pointer. Shane Micallef (Warwick, N.Y.) capped a dominant 23–4 run with a corner three. Micallef then added a steal and finish, and Zion Gordon (Lansing, Ill.) punctuated the performance with a driving bucket.

Behind a commanding second-half effort, the Hawks shot 50 percent from the floor in the half and pulled away for a convincing conference road victory over the Highlanders and securing the season sweep for the first time since 2019.

UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKS
The Hawks will close their final weekend roadtrip with a 4PM matchup against the Alfred Saxons on Saturday, February 14th.

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.