ONEONTA, NY – Four players reached double figures as Hartwick defeated defending Liberty League champion Skidmore Tuesday night at Lambros Arena, 66-56. The Hawks even up their record at 1-1. The Thoroughbreds were making their season debut.
            Pat Garey (Johnson City, NY/Johnson City) dropped in 15 points to tie for the game-high. He knocked down three three-pointers in the game. Austin Haskell (Kirkwood, NY/Susquehanna Valley) chipped in 13 points and he tied for a game-high with eight boards. Tommy Kelly (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) had 12 points, including a 9-of-10 showing from the free throw line, and Bobby Connors (Rockville Centre, NY/Chaminade) chipped in 11 points.
            The lead changed hands 11 different times in the first half. The Hawks were paced in the half by Haskell's 12 points with Garey contributing 10. 'Wick jumped in front, 25-24, with 4:17 remaining in the half, and they never trailed again. Garey had five points in the final three minutes as the Hawks scored 11 of the half's final 15 points to enter halftime up 34-28.
             The Hawks broke the game open following a slow start to the second half in which neither team scored a point for nearly four minutes. A Connors' layup triggered a quick seven-point burst with a Liam Drennan (Oyster Bay, NY/Chaminade) tip-in and a Kyle Bradshaw (Tinton Falls, NJ/Manasquan) three and the Hawks had their biggest lead of the night, 41-28.
            A 14-2 run, however, would get the Thoroughbreds right back in it as they trimmed the margin to a single point, 43-42. 'Wick would net the next six points over a five-minute span, while Skidmore missed six straight shots with two turnovers, and the Hawks led 49-42. The visitors managed to make it a single-possession game, 49-46, with 4:41 left only to have Garey drain a three and Hartwick would end up scoring eight of the next nine points to all but seal the victory. The Hawks connected on 9-of-10 shots from the free-throw line in the last 1:15.
            Bradshaw ended the game with six points, four assists, and he tied for the game-high in rebounds with eight. Connors added five boards, and Garey, Drennan, and Calvin Seward (Bridgeport, CT/Fairchild Wheeler) each had four.
            Ty Lamoport led the way for Skidmore with 15 points. Tautydas Kupstas had 14 and Pat Gallagher scored 13.
            Hartwick improves to 16-12 against the Thoroughbreds all-time. The Hawks have now won two straight against them dating back to last season.
            'Wick hosts the Hartwick Basketball Tip-Off Tournament on Friday and Saturday at Lambros Arena. The Hawks get things started with a 5:30 meeting with CCNY followed by Plattsburgh and Farmingdale at 7:30 on Friday. The consolation game is Saturday at 2 p.m. with the championship game slated for 4 p.m.

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