ONEONTA, NY – The Hartwick men's basketball team remains in search of their first win of the season after Saturday, as they dropped a close decision to local rival SUNY Delhi, 78-74. The Hawks are now 0-3 on the year, while the Broncos improve to 3-0.
Delhi got out to a 9-2 lead after a three-pointer and two-point bucket from Norman Wilson on consecutive possessions, leading to a Hartwick timeout. Anthony Girard (Chestertown, NY/North Warren Central) would respond in kind, with his own trey and jumper to cut the deficit to 9-7. The teams stayed evenly matched for a while after that, trading buckets until Cooper Francis (Lynbrook, NY/Chaminade) put in a lay-up and then assisted another Girard three for a 22-15 Hawks lead.
The Broncos kept coming, scoring eight consecutive points down 26-21 for a three-point lead. Kevin Felasco (Liverpool, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) did immediately respond with an advantage-restoring three, but Delhi's Erhunosere Uwuigbe would score the Broncos final nine points of the half as they took a 36-34 lead into the locker room.
Lester McCarthy's three extended that lead to five out of the break, although a Felasco trey and Nick Eiler (Highland Mills, NY/Saddle River Day) bucket brought us back even at 39-all under two minutes in. The team would stay within a possession of each other until 8:53 was left and Girard canned another three. 'Wick would lead by as much as six before Brennan Heaven sank a three assisted by Isiah Barnes with 7:34 to go. Barnes then stole the ball from Francis, dishing to Wilson for a fastbreak trey and a tie game at 61-all.
After Girard and McCarthy traded three-point plays, Mavenson Thernus put in a lay-up for a 66-64 lead, and Barnes converted his own three-point play to push it to 69-64. The Broncos would maintain a two to four point advantage for much of the rest of the game, holding on for the four-point victory.
Girard led the way with a game- and career-high 22 points, also contributing five rebounds. Francis nearly had a double-double with 15 points and nine boards, and had six assists to boot. Felasco was also at 15 points as well as six rebounds, and Steven White (Hingham, MA/Hingham) had 12 points, five rebounds, and three assists.
'Wick outshot their opponents on the night, at 40.6% from the field to Delhi's 36.8%. That included a more substantial 36.4% to 20.8% from three. The Hawks also won the rebounding battle, 47 to 44. The difference came in the ball control department, as Hartwick turned it over 21 times to the Broncos' 11, leading to a 24-7 advantage in points off turnovers.
'Wick is back to it on Tuesday, when they host Vassar at 7:30 p.m. in Lambros Arena.
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