ONEONTA, N.Y. - Senior Xavier Hill (Johnson City, NY/Johnson City) netted a career-high 43 points to help the Oneonta men's basketball team to a 100-87 win over Hartwick in the annual "Battle of the Hills" game. The Red Dragons pick up their first win of the season and move to 1-0 overall, while the Hawks fall to 0-2.

The first half remained close, and Hartwick tied 17-17 following a triple from Jaden Carter at 13:17. Hill converted an inside layup to spur an 8-0 run to take a 25-17 lead, but the Hawks responded with six unanswered points to cut the lead to two.

Hartwick kept the score within single digits, but a jumper and a three-pointer by freshman Cam LaClair (Selkirk, NY/Bethlehem) pushed Oneonta ahead 39-29 with 4:34 left in the half. Hill scored seven straight points to give the Red Dragons a 46-33 lead before Hartwick went on a 4-0 run. Hill drained a triple at 2:01 to make it 49-37, but Hartwick's Joey McLaurin responded with a triple to bring the game back within single digits. Senior Caleb Brown (Brooklyn, NY/Uncommon Charter) scored inside before a pair of Hawks' free throws from Brian Bonin cut the lead to 51-42 at the half.

Baskets from senior Zyeir Lawrence (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta) and Hill gave Oneonta an 11-point lead. Hartwick responded with an 8-0 span to make it 57-54 at 15:36. Hill had back-to-back layups and a triple from junior Elijah Castillo (Bronx, NY/St. Raymonds) pushed Oneonta up 64-54. Oneonta held a double-digit lead until Tarrell Cumberbatch and Mike Gitz scored to bring the score within six points.  

Oneonta pulled away again, with Hill hitting a trey at 6:02 to make it 87-74. He then closed out the game with two layups to secure the win.

Hill shot 15-for-24 from the field and was 5-of-7 from three-point range. He added 18 rebounds. Castillo finished with 16 points, five assists, and three rebounds. Brown added 12 points off the bench, while freshman Shea Barber (Wells Bridge, NY/Unatego) scored 10. Freshman Sam Booth (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) grabbed seven boards, and junior Tyler Harts (Queens, NY/Sewanaka) dished out five assists.

McLaurin led Hartwick with 23 points, while Gitz added 18 points and four rebounds. Bonin finished with 11 points and four assists.

Oneonta outrebounded Hartwick 47-19.

Oneonta next hosts the Michael A. Freilich Tip-Off Tournament from Nov. 16-17. The Red Dragons play Elmira on Saturday at 7 p.m.