UTICA, NY – Hartwick dropped an 84-71 decision on the road at Utica College on Thursday night despite a combined 44 points from Kevin Townes (Lagrangeville, NY/Our Lady of Lourdes) and Brandon LaForest (Cohoes, NY/Cohoes). With the loss, the Hawks slip to 4-8 overall and 1-2 in conference play. The host Pioneers improve to 6-6 and 1-2.
Townes dropped in a game-high 25 points. He connected on 3-of-8 from three-point range and contributed four rebounds. LaForest netted 19 points, hit two threes, went a perfect 7-of-7 from the free-throw line, and notched five assists. Corey Baker (Granby, MA/Granby) also was in double figures with 11 points. No other Hawk had more than six on the night.
Hartwick grabbed an early 9-6 lead on a Townes' three-pointer 3:24 into the contest. The Pioneers scored the next five points and they never trailed again. UC opened up a 10-point advantage at 7:03 but five straight points from Townes trimmed the margin to six, 27-21, with just over four minutes left in the half. An 11-4 run to close the half handed the Pioneers a 38-25 edge at the break.
In the second half, another three from Townes got the Hawks to within single digits, 47-38, inside the first three minutes. A 9-2 Pioneer spurt built the lead back up to 16. The Hawks were able to get as close as 11 on two occasions the rest of the way but they got no closer.
Justin Carruthers (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) chipped in six points and four rebounds for 'Wick. Patrick Garey (Johnson City, NY/Johnson City) scored five points.
Hartwick would make 37% from the floor on the night. The Pioneers made half of their shots (27-for-54) and they out-rebounded the Hawks, 41-31.
Hunter Remley made a game-high five three-pointers and scored a team-best 23 points. Ivan Iton added a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds. Bennito Ayarza netted 19 points and dished out five assists.
Hartwick returns home for a home conference game on Saturday against Stevens. Tip-off is 2 p.m.