ONEONTA, N.Y. – Some sharp shooting and a stingy defense propelled the Hartwick Hawks past the Houghton Highlanders on Saturday afternoon, 87-63.
 
The Hawks shot nearly 55 percent from the floor, including 44 percent from three-point-range in the second half, while limiting Houghton to 34 percent shooting on the day.
 
After Houghton scored the first five points of the game, Hartwick reeled off a 19-2 run to go up by 12.  The Highlanders, however, clawed back into contention, and with 4:50 remaining in the first half a three-pointer from Jordan Holmes pulled Houghton within one point.
 
Houghton remained within a basket until the 2:00 mark, when the Hawks caught fire again, finishing off the half on a 10-3 run to head to the locker room up, 41-31.
 
In the second half, Hartwick came out with guns blazing, and by the midway point led by 28 points.  While Houghton continued to fight throughout, pulling within 16 with just under seven minutes to play, the deficit proved insurmountable.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 63 | Hartwick – 87
Records: Houghton: 3-12 (1-3 Empire 8) | Hartwick: 11-5 (3-2 Empire 8)
Venue: Lambros Arena, Hartwick College | Attendance: 100

NOTABLE STATS
>> Isander Ramos-Net turned in another solid performance, netting 20 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals.  On the weekend, Ramos-Net scored 36 points, grabbed 17 rebounds and dished out 11 assists.
 
>> Scottie Berghaus reached double-digit points for the second night in a row, scoring 16 points.  His 34 points in the last two games is the most he has scored in back-to-back games this season.
 
>> Jordan Holmes chipped in 11 points, and Billy McCrae added eight points and 10 rebounds.  Today's game was the first that McCrae has not scored in double-digits since December 14.
 
>> The Hawks were led by Pat Garey, who scored 15 points.  Kyle Bradshaw and Austin Haskell added 12 points apiece.
 
UP NEXT
Houghton returns to the Nielsen Center on Friday, January 24 for a matchup with the visiting Utica Pioneers at 5:30 p.m.