ONEONTA, NY – With under ten minutes to go in regulation, the visiting Ithaca Bombers used a 25-16 run over the Hartwick men's basketball team to force extra minutes at Lambros Arena. In overtime, the Bombers never surrendered the lead in a 106-103 victory to end a three-game skid of their own and achieve their first victory in conference. The Hawks have now dropped their last two contests and fall to 8-4, 1-2 in league play.
Through 118 games all-time, the most of any Hartwick opponent, Ithaca owns a 71-47 all-time clip.
At 9:03 to go in the game, 'Wick matched its largest lead up nine, 79-70. From that point, Ithaca (5-6, 1-1 E8) made three baskets, two of which came from behind the arc from Marc Chasin, and one from Sebastian Alderete to dissolve the deficit to just one point. Chasin would conclude the game hitting eight shots from long-range territory for a game-high 30 points.
Hartwick widened its lead back up to seven, 90-83, at 4:22 capped on a made trey from Brandon LaForest (Cohoes, NY/Cohoes HS). However, Chasin answered with a pair of long-range buckets to again nearly erase the Hartwick advantage.
Both teams went on to exchange baskets before Chasin was sent to the free-throw line. There, he converted both to not only deadlock the score but give IC a one-point edge with 2:33 left, 93-92.
A steal by Joey Lufkin (Argyle, NY/Argyle Central) resulted in him going to the line where he tied the score, 94-94.
Chasin got to the line once more and split his pair for a one-point window. Another free-throw from Lufkin would seal the gap and with two empty possessions, one by each team, put five minutes back on the clock.
Ithaca captured the lead on a make at the line and would match its largest advantage of the night, up six, 102-96, with just over two minutes remaining. A layup by Lufkin brought Hartwick back within one with 26 ticks left in OT, but IC converted four of six attempts from the free-throw line which proved the difference as Ithaca established a 106-103 final score line.
'Wick went up by as many as nine in the first half though the team settled for just a three-point edge heading into the locker room. Both teams mirrored turnovers but the host was able to convert the seven in 12 points while IC only added four from the miscues. Hartwick also benefitted from 16 second-chance opportunities to that of four from the visitors.
Lufkin led the Hawks with season-bests of 27 points and seven dimes. He also added two steals. Jake Sinicki (Endicott, NY/Maine-Endwell HS) finished with his first double-double of the season netting 23 points and pulling down a season-high 12 boards. LaForest netted 21 points, four assists, and four rebounds.
For the opponent, Joey Flanagan concluded with 20 points while Alderete came off the bench for 17.
Hartwick, on a four-game home-stand, hosts Stevens next Tuesday, January 10. Tip-off is slated for an 8 p.m. start time.