Hartwick 85, Utica 79 - Box Score

Utica, N.Y. (2/8/2011) – Four different players scored in double figures for Hartwick College as the Hawks downed host Utica College 85-79 in Empire 8 Conference action Tuesday night at the Clark Athletic Center. The Hawks made 25 free throws in the contest, including 12 of their final 13 in the last 1:14 of play to fend off the Pioneers.

Senior guard James Patterson (Poughkeepsie, NY/Poughkeepsie) and junior forward Almir Gredelj (Utica, NY/Proctor) led the way for the Pioneers with 22 points each, while freshman Adolphe Jean Baptiste (Harlem, NY/Martin Luther King) added a career-high 15 points and grabbed six rebounds. UC dropped to 10-9 overall and 4-7 in the Empire 8 with the loss. Hartwick improved to 13-7 overall and advanced to 8-3 in the E8.

Chris Ryder scored a game-high 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Hawks while local product and Empire 8 Conference Rookie of the Year hopeful Jared Suderley added 22 points and ten rebounds.

The visitors opened up a quick nine point lead, 13-4, in the first 3:13 of play behind three 3-pointers and two jumpers. UC answered with an 11-3 run in the next 6:53 of play to cut the lead to just one, 16-15, with just under ten minutes to play in the first half. The Hawks then went on a 17-4 run to take a commanding 33-19 lead with 1:25 to go before the half. UC was able to cut that lead to 11 prior to the buzzer and Hartwick held a 33-22 advantage after 20 full minutes of play. The Pioneers shot a dismal 25 percent (8-of-32) from the floor in the first half as the Hawks took a strong lead into the locker room.

Hartwick came out of the gates hot in the second half and jumped out to a 19 point lead, 52-33, 5:36 into the second half. Utica managed a 12-0 run in the next 3:32 of play to cut the Hawks lead to seven points, 52-45, midway through the second half. The visitors extended that lead back to 12 points with 8:32 to go before the Pioneers made one last push. A 12-4 run by the Pioneers cut the lead back to just four points, 63-59, with 4:46 to go in the contest. The Hawks would not back down though and made four straight buckets to stretch the lead back to nine points with 2:08 left.

Utica's James Patterson (Poughkeepsie, NY/Poughkeepsie) scored 11 points in the final 1:09 of play but the Hawks converted on 12-of-13 free throws in the final minute to seal the victory.

Senior forward Robert Whyte (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock Township) scored nine points and grabbed three rebounds for Utica, while Kevin Johnson, Will Abrams (Somerset, NJ/Rutgers Prep School), Jeff Ward (Ossining, NY/Ossining High School), George Schultz (Ridgefield, NJ/Ridgefield Memorial) and Marlon Davidson (Jamaica, NY/August Martin) combined for 11 points for the Pioneers.

Andres Carpio scored 15 points and dished out five assists for Hartwick and Mark Blazek added 16 points and seven assists.

The Pioneers return to action on Friday night when they travel to Alfred University for a conference match up. Tip-off is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.

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