Hawks Edge Stevens; Host Empire 8 Championship Sunday
HOBOKEN, NJ - Hartwick battled back from a 13-point first-half deficit and took the lead for good with 16.7 seconds left to take down Stevens in the Empire 8 Men's Basketball semifinals on Friday night in Hoboken, NJ. The victory, coupled with St. John Fisher's 88-75 upset win at Ithaca, allows the Hawks to host the Cardinals on Sunday for the Empire Championship and the league's automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.
After Hartwick fought back from the early deficit, neither team led by more than four points over the final 17 minutes of the game. An Anthony Keane (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) dunk gave 'Wick its largest lead of the night, 69-66, with 2:47 to play, but three straight points from Simon Smith tied it at 69 less than a minute later.
Two Chris Ryder (Port Washington, NY/Port Washington) free throws put the Hawks in front before Sheldon Jones's jumper drew even again with 1:15 remaining. On the Hawks' next touch of the ball, Conference rookie of the year Jared Suderley (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley) was fouled and went to the line with 45 ticks left. He missed his first shot but put 'Wick in the lead with his second.
On the other end, Jones missed a jumper, but a fortuitous bounce on the rebound left Bryan Franklin all alone under the basket to convert a layup to give Stevens its last advantage of the night. With the clock ticking down and the Hawks trailing by one, 73-72, Ryder drove to the hoop and was fouled. He drained both attempts from the line with under 17 seconds left to put the Hawks up to stay.
Jones missed a jumper for Stevens and the Ducks were forced to foul. Junior Mark Blazek (Erie, PA/Erie Cathedral Prep) gave the Blue and White some breathing room with two free throws with five seconds to play, 76-73. The Hawks then fouled to put the Ducks on the line without getting a chance at a game-tying three-pointer. Mike Cutri, however, missed the first shot with 2.8 seconds left. He purposely missed his second and the Ducks got the offensive board and quickly called timeout.
Stevens looked for Cutri, who had already knocked down three three-pointers in the game, but the Hawks had him smothered. The in-bounds instead went to forward Kevin McManamy and his off-balance three at the horn was off the mark giving 'Wick the win.
Blazek led all scorers with 19 points. He added a team-high three treys and sank all six attempts from the line. Suderley finished with 15 points and a team-high six rebounds, and Keane netted 14 points. Ryder closed out the night with 13 points, including 6-for-6 from the charity stripe.
For the game, the Hawks hit 47%. They shot 56% (9-for-16) from three-point range, and hit 83% from the free-throw line.
Jones led four players in double figures for Stevens with 18. Smith contributed 16 points and a game-high 18 rebounds. Cutri finished with 15 points and Russ Thompson added 14.
Hartwick, which made its Empire 8 playoff debut tonight, now advances to its first Empire 8 Championship game on Sunday. The Hawks host St. John Fisher at Lambros Arena at 3:30 p.m. 'Wick will look for its first outright conference title in Hartwick history and its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 1995-96.