PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher University men's basketball team hosted Hartwick College on Tuesday in the first round of the Empire 8 Conference Championship Tournament. The Cardinals made easy work of the Hawks, jumping in front 51-23 at halftime and earning the win by a final score of 103-54. The No. 4 seed Fisher team will now head to Utica University to take on the No. 1 seed Pioneers.
 
Ryan Gentile got the scoring started quickly, knocking down a three in the opening ten seconds of action. The Cardinals took advantage of some overzealous defending that sent them to the free-throw line, making 7-of-8 to go in front 12-2 with 14:41 to play. Hartwick ended the Fisher run at the 12:28 mark, scoring their next layup to make the score 19-4. The lead was extended to 20 for the first time at 9:01, with Brendan McRoy converting a fast break dunk off a steal. The team did not stop there, Akinlana Popoola added to the advantage with a three-pointer, and Daniel Cook converted a pair of free throws to make it a 25-point lead. The Hawks began to make shots to keep even with Fisher down the stretch, but going into half time the Cardinals were ahead 51-23.
 
The second frame included much of the same success. Gentile opened the half with a layup and Cole Thompson contributed a three-pointer. Connor Recore made back-to-back layups and then with 15:48 to play, he made two free throws to bring the score to 68-27 in favor of Fisher. The two teams began to trade baskets, with the Cardinals adding to their lead until it reach the 50 point mark at the 2:12 mark, when a Brad Fowler layup put the team in front 99-49. The game ended with a 103-54 victory.
 
Cook, Recore and Gentile, all finished with double-digit scoring. Record tallied a double-double with 16 points and ten rebounds to go along with two blocks and a steal. Cook was the leader in scoring with 18 points in 22 minutes of action. He also added six rebounds and four assists. Gentile shot 4-for-7 from three to total 14 points, and was active on defense with three steals.
 
The Cardinals travel to Utica University for a semi-final matchup against the Pioneers on Friday, Feb. 24. The battle is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. start time.
 
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