Box l Updated Stats

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Third-seeded Hartwick closed on a 14-4 run over the final 3:46 to rally for a 75-69 victory over second-seeded Nazareth in the Empire 8 semifinals Friday night at St. John Fisher College.

The Golden Flyers end the season with a 17-9 record.  Hartwick moves on to the Empire 8 Championship on Saturday when it will take on top-seeded St. John Fisher College.  

After Nazareth led for the entire second half, Hartwick took its first lead at 68-67 with 1:48 to play following two free throws from Joey Lufkin. 

The Hawks led for the rest of the contest and Maurice Mills poured in the only other basket for Nazareth down the stretch.

In the first half, Nazareth broke a 9-9 tie due to a strong stretch from Brendan Wind.  Wind scored seven of nine points on a 9-0 run to give the second seed an 18-9 lead near the midway point of the half.

Later in the half, Tyler Stenglein buried a 3-pointer and on the next possession down the floor, poured in a layup to make it 29-16 at the five minute mark.

Hartwick was able to claw to within 31-27 at the break.

The second half was closely contested throughout.  Nazareth increased a three point lead to nine points at 63-54 on a 9-2 run.  Stenglein nailed two jumpers from the foul line and Mills muscled up a layup on the spurt for the Golden Flyers.

Mills was Nazareth's leading scorer with 20 points (9-for-13), while grabbing a game-high 15 rebounds. 

Stenglein finished with 17 points (8-of-16), while Wind contributed 12 points (4-of-9) and six assists.

Ford closed out his career with 11 points (4-of-13) and seven boards.