Men's Basketball

Hartwick Prevails Over Stevens on Senior Day for Fourth Straight Win

ONEONTA, NY - Hartwick's senior class accounted for 50 points in its final regular season home game as the men's basketball team emerged with a 67-60 win over visiting Stevens Institute of Technology Saturday in the newly christened Lambros Arena. Jan Cocozziello (Scotch Plains, NJ) led the way once again for the Blue and White with a game-high 27 points. The Hawks improve to 13-12 overall and will now await word from the ECAC on a possible postseason bid in early March.

Stevens led 36-30 at the break, but the Hawks played an inspired second half following the dedication of the newly refurbished gym to legendary coach Nick Lambros '59. 'Wick would outscore the Ducks 37-24 in the second period for the win.

The Hawks trailed 50-43 with 11:36 to play but outscored the Ducks by a 24-10 margin to close the game in the victory. A 9-2 'Wick run over a three-minute span would even the game at 52-52 capped by a Kyle Phillips (Ashland, MA) turnaround jumper with 7:21 remaining. The Ducks would regain the lead with a Simon Smith free throw, but senior Greg Bankowski (Schenectady, NY) would give Hartwick the lead for good with a big offensive rebound and put-back at the 5:43 mark. Cocozziello would take over in the final five minutes scoring eight of the Hawks last 13 points.

Senior Ramond Doyley (Yonkers, NY) was a force in the paint on the day pulling down a game-high 13 rebounds and he tied a career-best with seven offensive boards. He added six points. Cocozziello finished shooting 10 of 20 from the field with three triples, and senior A.J. Beaulieu (Chicopee, MA) sank 5 of 8 from the floor for 11 points. Bankowski added six points and five boards. Martin McCann (Hopewell Junction, NY) and Mark Blazek (Erie, PA) combined for five Hartwick three-pointers on the day.

Stevens' Anthony Passalacqua scored 24 points hitting seven three-pointers in the process. This weekend alone, he finished with 17 treys after nailing 10 against Elmira last night. Matt Higgins added 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Ducks. 'Wick shot 44% as a team including 47% in the all-important second half. The team also out-rebounded the Ducks 37-31 and turned 15 offensive boards into 22 second-chance points.

The Hawks' 13-12 overall mark is their first winning season since 1999-2000. The team has won four straight and five of its last six games. 'Wick will have to wait until Mar. 2nd, when the ECAC announces its participants, to find out its postseason fate.