NEWBURGH, N.Y. - The Hartwick men's basketball team opened up the 2007-08 season with a 64-54 victory over Lehman College in the first round of the Mount Saint Mary College Invitational, Friday evening at MSMC's Kaplan Center.
The Hawks received a 12-point, 4-rebound, 4-assist evening from Jan Cocozziello ( Scotch Plains, N.J.) in the victory over the Lightning. Senior Cory Carson (Gansevoort, N.Y.) added 10 points, while Chris Carson (Gansevoort, N.Y.) chipped in 9 points, 4 rebounds and 3 blocks in his collegiate debut.
Hartwick out rebounded Lehman 40-26 thanks in part to a solid effort on the boards by Raymond Doyley (Yonkers, N.Y.) as the junior ripped down a game-high 13 rebounds in the victory.
With the game tied at 10-10, the Hawks took the lead for good at the 11:28 mark of the first half on a lay-up by Albe Hulick (Greenville, N.Y.). Hartwick, which headed into intermission with a seven-point advantage, netted the first five points in the second half to build the lead to a dozen at 34-22. Greg Bankowski (Guilderland, N.Y.) put in a lay-up with 9:47 left to give the Hawks their largest lead at 49-33. Lehman countered with an 11-2 run to pull within 51-44 with 6:06 left, but couldn't get any closer.
Hartwick connected on 23 of 45 field goal attempts (.511), including 11 of 19 in the second half, while holding the Lightning to 20 of 56 shooting (.357) from the floor.
The Hawks advance to the finals of the tournament and will take on the host school, Mount Saint Mary, which defeated Briarcliffe in the second game, 75-69. Opening tip for the title game is at 4 p.m.
