ONEONTA, NY – The Hartwick men's basketball team shot 52.4% from the field and 55.9% from three in a 95-79 victory over the visiting Bard College Raptors on Tuesday night, evening up their season record at 1-1. This was Bard's first game of the season, as they fall to 0-1.
            The Hawks raced out to a quick six-point lead to open the game, but the Raptors were able to come back and take a one-point lead a little over five minutes in. Hartwick responded well, regaining the lead and extending it back out to six with the help of five points from Kevin Townes (Lagrangeville, NY/Our Lady of Lourdes), but once again Bard fought back, cutting their deficit to one. That was the closest they would get, however, as the Hawks extended their lead out and closed the half on a 15-3 run, thanks in part to a trio of three-point plays (one traditional) from Austin Haskell (Kirkwood, NY/Susquehanna Valley). At the break, Hartwick led 45-28.
            The second-half was an offensive clinic, with each team scoring 50 or more points and shooting over 54% from the field. Five Hartwick players hit multiple three-pointers, leading to an astounding 70.6% from beyond the arc in the second half. The Hawks lead was as large as 24 and was cut to as little as 12 with 3:58 remaining, but 'Wick was comfortably in control through the final buzzer. Bard's Alijah Rue had an excellent second half, scoring 19 points and dishing out four assists, giving him a total of 32 points, a game-high.
            Haskell stood out for the Hawks, scoring a career-high 25 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including 4-of-4 from deep, and just missing a double-double with nine rebounds. Brandon LaForest (Cohoes, NY/Cohoes) did get a double-double, posting 12 points and 12 assists, rounding out his game with six boards and three steals as well. Pat Garey (Johnson City, NY/Johnson City) had a solid game, scoring 16 points and dishing out seven assists. Sam Hanley also had double-digit points for 'Wick, with a career-high 15 points to go with three rebounds and two steals. Townes (nine points/seven rebounds), Justin Carruthers (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) (six points/eight rebounds), and Bobby Connors (Rockville Centre, NY/Chaminade) (eight points/five rebounds) all had nice nights as well.
            The Hawks comfortably outshot the Raptors from the field, 52.4% to 42.3%, as well a 55.9% to 28.0% difference from three. Hartwick also won the rebounding battle, 45-35. Bard had the advantage in turnovers, 22-14, but could not convert them into points as often, as 'Wick had 14 points off of turnovers to Bard's 13. Hartwick also outscored Bard 21-9 in bench points, led primarily by Connors and Townes.
            Rue was the star for Bard, but a handful of other Raptors had good nights as well. Justyn Rogers was a rebound away from a double-double, grabbing nine and scoring 10 points. David Runcie and Armando Dunn also scored in the double-digits, with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
            Hartwick returns to action this weekend in the Hilton Scranton Invitational, hosted by the University of Scranton. The Hawks will play the hosts on Friday, November 16 at 7:30 p.m., and take on either Ursinus or St. Lawrence the next day, time to be determined.