Hartwick, Stevens and Alfred Win to Stay at Top of Standings

1/25/2014 7:30:00 PM

Stevens 92, Utica 67 (Box Score)
For the fourth time in as many games, the Stevens Institute of Technology men's basketball team earned a double-digit victory, this time getting a 92-67 Empire 8 road win at Utica College.

 After the host Pioneers took a 2-1 lead, a layup from junior forward Patrick Sabatino gave the Ducks a lead they would never relinquish, cruising to a 25-point win. The Sabatino pair started an 11-0 run over a span of 2:30 that gave the Ducks a 12-2 margin.
 
Utica (6-11 overall, 1-7 Empire 8) trimmed the Stevens lead to five points with 11:50 to play in the first, but the Ducks responded with another run – this one of the 8-0 variety. Sabatino canned a jumper, senior guard Matt Skrelja sunk a pair at the line, sophomore guard Evan Klimchak made a layup and two free throws as the Ducks quickly built their lead back to 13 (27-14) with 9:45 in the opening period.
 
The Pioneers came back to get within 10 at several points, but Stevens refused to let Utica build any real momentum, eventually pushing its margin to 20 at the break on the back of a three-pointer from senior guard Phillip DeSeignora with two seconds left.
 
In the second half, the Pioneers never got closer than 20, with the Ducks eventually building a 30-point edge when DeSeignora drilled another three, this to make it a 68-38 game with 11:09 left.
 

Hartwick 76, Ithaca 58 (Box Score)
The Hartwick men's basketball team trailed in the opening minutes but recovered to win its five straight contest as it defeated Ithaca College 76-58 on Saturday afternoon at Ben Light Gymnasium. 

The home team led in the early moments of the first half as Ithaca held a 12-6 lead at 15:34. A 27-11 'Wick run covering 11 minutes of clock time staked the Hawks out to a 10 point advantage, 33-23, with 4:36 remaining in the period. Hartwick would go into halftime with a 37-28 lead.

The Hawks outscored the Bombers 18-8 in the first frame. 'Wick also had a small lead in field goal percentage 48.5% to 46.4%.

The second half belonged to Hartwick as it never led by more than 10 points. The Hawks increased their lead to 16 points, 44-28) at 18:26. The Bombers twice reduced the deficit to 10 points, once at 16:42, and the final time at 12:36.

A 23-6 'Wick run spanning nine and a half minutes of the contest was the backbreaker for the Bombers as Hartwick led by as much as 27 points, 74-47, with just over three minutes left to play. The Hawks' defense held the Bombers to just one field goal during the span.

Overall, the Hawks were 30-of-66 (45.5%) in field goals to Ithaca's 25-of-61 (41%). In three-point shots, Hartwick was good on 7-of-19 (36.8%) while the Bombers were only 5-of-23 (21.7%).

'Wick ended the game with a 30-18 lead in points in the paint. The Hawks led in rebounds 40-35, and had eight steals to just three for IC.


Alfred 97, St. John Fisher 95 (Box Score)
A jumper by junior guard Tim Pacheco as time expired lifted the Alfred University men's basketball team to a thrilling 97-95 win over host St. John Fisher Saturday afternoon in Empire 8 Conference play.

Alfred led throughout, before Fisher tied the game on a four-point play with seven seconds remaining in regulation. The Cardinals' Adam Ambielli hit a three-point shot, was fouled, and sank the free throw to knot the game at 95-95, setting the stage for Pacheco's heroics. With the win, Alfred improves to 12-4 overall and 4-2 in Empire 8 play. Fisher falls to 11-6 (5-2 in league games).

Alfred led 48-42 at the half, as the Saxons shot 51 percent from the floor, making five three-point shots. Senior guard Tom Tsatsis and sophomore guard Jerry Kincel each netted seven points before intermission. AU led by as many as 12 points in the second half and never trailed, holding the lead until Ambielli's late four-point play.

For the game, AU shot 49 percent from the floor, made six three-point shots, and nailed 23 of 29 free-throw attempts. Poor free-throw shooting by Fisher was the difference, as the Cardinals made only 30 of 45 tries from the line, while making 46 percent from the field. Alfred outrebounded Fisher, 44-34.

Tsatsis finished with 16 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals, while Kincel added 14 points and five board. Pacheco had 10 points and a pair of assists; freshman guard Tyler Seelman had 12 points; and junior center Dalton Walsh had 11 points and five rebounds.

Chaz Lott had 19 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals and Tyler Hart had 15 points to lead Fisher.

 

SCHOOL	CONF	OVERALL
Hartwick	7-1	12-6
Stevens	6-2	12-5
St. John Fisher	5-2	11-6
Alfred	4-2	12-4
Nazareth	4-2	11-5
Elmira	1-4	5-10
Utica	1-7	6-11
Ithaca	0-8	4-14
Houghton	0-0	3-13
Houghton is an NCAA provisional member and is not eligible for postseason. Games against the Highlanders will not impact conference records/standings.