ROCHESTER, NY – After falling victim to a 24-point deficit by host St. John Fisher, the Hartwick men's basketball team nearly completed a gutsy comeback, bringing the contest to just a two-possession game late. With the shot clock turned off, two missed three-point opportunities by the Hawks exhausted the remaining time and saw the Cardinals come away with the 71-65 win at Bobby Wanzer Court on Friday night. 

The win keeps St. John Fisher at the top of Empire 8 standings at 5-0 and 10-4 overall while Hartwick stumbles to 11-5 overall and 4-3 in the league.

Though 'Wick received the opening tip, the first bucket of the night would not come until 2:19 into the game as Tyler English drove baseline dropping a quick feed to Keegan Ryan for the easy two.

The Cardinals shared the basketball early as 11 of its first-half baskets were assisted. 

The Hawks shot just 1-of-8 to start the second half, which doubled their halftime deficit, capped by a lay-in from Alex Sausville for a 48-24 Cardinal lead at the 13:39 mark. 

Despite the disadvantage, Hartwick climbed back to 10 as Jake Sinicki (Endicott, NY/Maine Endwell) buried both of his tries at the free-throw line for a 56-46 score with just under six minutes to go.

Fisher protected that cushion late, ahead 67-57 until a long-ball from Corey Baker (Granby, MA/Granby) knifed the lead to single-digits at the 1:09 mark.

Michael D'Amico split his appearance at the line putting Fisher back up nine with 58 ticks left before the final horn. Joey Lufkin (Argyle, NY/Argyle Central) assisted Sinicki's three but also gathered two points of his own to make it a two-possession game, 70-65, with 20 seconds left. 

Sausville returned to the charity stripe for two, hitting one, for a 71-65 lead. Two long-balls from Lufkin were off the mark and Fisher would come away with the win. 

Hartwick managed to outscore Fisher in the second half. Lufkin and Sinicki, who after combining for seven first-half points, finished with a team leading 16 and 18 respective points.

Sinicki also registered eight boards and Marc du Moulin (Altamont, NY/Guilderland HS) grabbed seven rebounds and earned six points. Justin Pratt (North Kingstown, RI/North Kingstown HS) was credited with six points and six boards.

Ryan Henderson led all scoring Cardinals with 14 points and three assists. He was backed by 10-point productions from Ryan and Jake Haight, who also added 10 rebounds. Sausville finished with 13 points.

Through 48 meetings, St. John Fisher owns the all-time advantage with a record of 37-12, and has edged the Hawks in four of its last five regular season encounters.

Hartwick continues its Rochester road swing tomorrow, January 21 at 4 p.m. in a clash with Nazareth.