Men's Basketball

Cocozziello Lands on Empire 8 First Team; Blazek Tabbed Rookie of the Year

ROCHESTER, NY - Hartwick men's basketball senior guard Jan Cocozziello (Scotch Plains, NJ) and freshman guard Mark Blazek (Erie, PA) were both recognized for their exceptional seasons today as the Empire 8 announced its postseason awards. Cocozziello was selected to the conference first team after earning second team honors for the past two seasons. Blazek was picked as Empire 8 Rookie of the Year.

Cocozziello is averaging 18.5 points per game which ranks 4th in the Empire 8 Conference this season. With 1,837 career points at 'Wick, he ranks second in scoring in the 80-year history of the men's basketball program and is just 42 points shy of passing current leader Tim McGraw (1984-88). Cocozziello leads Hartwick in points, assists, steals, and free throws made this year, and is second in both three-point field goals made and rebounds. He ranks 5th all-time at Hartwick in career steals (124), 8th in three-pointers made (107), and is just three made free throws away from breaking the College record of 406. Over the course of his four-year career, Cocozziello has scored in double figures 80 times; netted over 20 points in a game 47 times; and scored 30 points or more on 10 different occasions.

Blazek, a three-time E8 Rookie of the Week, is averaging 10.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game in his first season with the Hawks. He has reached double figures in scoring 13 times this season, including eight times in his last 11 games. The Erie, PA marksman has nailed 48 three-point baskets in 2008-09, which ranks 2nd among all Empire 8 rookies and 10th in the league. Blazek has knocked down three or more three-pointers in a game 10 different times, including a career-best five in a one-point win over then-nationally ranked St John Fisher. He scored a season-high 22 points in his first collegiate game in a victory over Oneonta State and equaled the feat against Skidmore the following month.

'Wick senior Albe Hulick (Greenville, NY) was named to the Empire 8 Sportsman of the Year Team for consistently exhibiting the critical traits as an outstanding sportsman this season and competing with honor and integrity.

Hartwick's men's basketball team finished the regular season on a four-game winning streak for a 13-12 overall record. The Hawks will learn on Monday, Mar. 2 if their season continues as the ECAC will announce its postseason tournament participants.