ONEONTA, N.Y. — The Hartwick Men's Basketball team delivered a thrilling Senior Day performance at Lambros Arena, outlasting the Elmira Soaring Eagles in overtime for a 100–91 Empire 8 victory on Saturday afternoon.


THE BASICS
Final Score: Elmira 91 Hartwick 100
Location: Oneonta, NY | Lambros Arena
Records: Elmira (8-14 3-10 Empire 8) • Hartwick (8-14, 2-11 Empire 8)

 

BY THE NUMBERS

• Wick posted its best offensive output of the season, pouring in 100 points on 61% shooting.

• Mike Gitz caught fire from deep, drilling a career-high eight three-pointers on 72% shooting from beyond the arc.

• Seniors shined on Senior Day as Jackson Frame posted career highs of nine points and four assists, while Xymier Thomas added 10 points and eight rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Prior to tip-off, the Hartwick Men's Basketball program honored seniors Jackson Frame (Ballston Lake, N.Y.) and Xymier Thomas (Binghamton, N.Y.) for their contributions to the Blue and White during their time on the hill.

Elmira opened the scoring with a three-point play, but Frame answered immediately, driving to the rim before cleaning up a miss for a quick four points. Frame then found Mike Gitz (Commack, N.Y.) for the go-ahead three, setting the tone early. Thomas followed by spotting Kesean Leonard (Rochester, N.Y.) for a triple before assisting Frame on another drive as the seniors fueled the opening surge.

Leonard added a coast-to-coast bucket before Frame returned the favor, feeding Thomas inside. Elmira countered with an 8–2 run to regain the lead, but Hartwick responded emphatically. Gitz buried consecutive threes, Robby Lucas (Clarks Summit, Pa.) added one of his own, and the Hawks pushed their lead to seven. Malachi Polson (Bay Shore, N.Y.) and Samaj Barnwell (Stockbridge, Ga.) added strong finishes, including two emphatic dunks from Barnwell.

Hartwick's early rhythm stalled late in the half, however, as Elmira closed on a 20-point run to erase the deficit and send the Hawks into halftime trailing by six.

Gitz reignited the offense to start the second half, turning a steal into three points. Turnovers allowed Elmira to briefly stretch its lead to double digits, but Hartwick clawed back behind a 6–0 personal run from TJ Etienne (Boynton Beach, Fla.) and a steal-and-and-one from Polson that energized the crowd. Barnwell continued to score inside as the Hawks tightened defensively.

Gitz remained unstoppable, converting a running floater before drilling another deep three to pull Hartwick within two. Joey McLaurin (Mastic Beach, N.Y.) orchestrated the offense down the stretch, assisting Barnwell before finding Thomas for the go-ahead bucket with 2:26 remaining. Barnwell followed with a clutch mid-range jumper, and Gitz knocked down a momentum-swinging three with 44 seconds left to give Hartwick a four-point cushion.

Elmira leaned on its leading scorer in the closing moments, cutting the deficit to two before forcing a jump ball and scoring with four seconds remaining to send the contest to overtime.

Etienne opened the extra period by grabbing an offensive rebound and finishing inside, remaining perfect from the field. Gitz followed with his eighth three-pointer of the night, and Etienne added a shot-clock-beating mid-range jumper to seize control. Thomas, Barnwell, and Lucas sealed the victory at the free throw line as Hartwick closed out the hard-fought Senior Day win.

UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKS
The Hawks will hit the road for their final weekend roadtrip, opening against Houghton on Friday, February 13th at 7:30.

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.