The game proved to be everything expected of a cross-town rivalry, as the two teams traded blows in front of a highly-charged crowd of 1,011.
Oneonta State led, 28-25 after a see-saw first half.
The Red Dragons led by as many as nine points, 25-16 on a lay up by Rob Fitzgerald (Ballston Spa/Ballston Spa, N.Y.) with 5:20 to play in the first half.
Hartwick responded with a 9-0 run to tie the game at 25-all with a three-point play by junior forward Alex Lanfear (Lake George/Lake George, N.Y.) and three straight baskets from freshman guard Jan Cocozziello (New Hampton/Westfield, N.J.).
Oneonta seized the advantage going into the intermission on a Michael Reardon (Monsignor Farrell/Staten Island, N.Y.) three-pointer as time expired.
The first 15 minutes of the second half were low scoring, as Oneonta edged away from the Hawks to lead 45-37 on a lay up from Matt Latino (Lourdes/Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) with 6:17 left in the game.
Hartwick used a 6-0 run to cut the lead back to two, 45-43 on a Jeff Dills (North Division/Milwaukee, Wisc.) lay up with 4:18 left in the contest.
Oneonta finally took control with a 8-0 run on six points from Coffey on a three pointer and three foul shots, and a Daniel Medina (Walter Panas/Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) jumper that gave the Red Dragons a 53-44 lead with 2:07 to play.
Michael Reardon added 10 points as the only other scorer in double-figures for the Red Dragons. Hartwick limited Jaysen Murphy (Robert Wagner/East Elmhurst, N.Y.), who entered the game as Oneonta’s top scorer, to four points on solid defensive work by Cocoziello and Dills.
Cocozziello led Hartwick with 22 points. Freshman forward Anthony Brown (North Division/Milwaukee, Wisc.) added nine points and 12 rebounds.
Oneonta State, 4-4, will play in tomorrow’s championship game at 2:00 p.m. against St. Joseph’s (NY) College, an 84-69 winner over Fitchburg State (Mass.) College in today’s first game.
Hartwick, 4-3, will face Fitchburg State in the consolation game at 12:00 noon.
ONEONTA vs Hartwick College 12/10/05 8:00 p.m. at Oneonta, N.Y. (Binder Gymnasium) At Oneonta, N.Y. (Binder Gymnasium) ONEONTA 61, HARTWICK COLLEGE 55 ONEONTA (4-4) COFFEY, Sean 5-12 10-12 24; MEDINA, Daniel 5-9 0-0 10; BRATT, Eric 2-2 2-2 7; REARDON, Michael 2-6 2-2 7; MURPHY, Jason 2-4 0-0 4; MORIN, Ryan 2-4 0-0 4; LATINO, Matt 1-2 1-2 3; FITZGERALD, Rob 1-4 0-0 2; BAROSY, Pierre 0-2 0-0 0; WYSOCKI, Josh 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 20-46 15-18 61. HARTWICK COLLEGE (4-3) COCOZZIELLO, Jan 9-17 3-4 22; BROWN, Anthony 3-8 3-4 9; KINDLON, Tim 2-9 0-0 6; DILLS, Jeff 2-3 2-4 6; LANFEAR, Alex 2-3 1-1 5; HULICK, Albe 1-5 1-2 3; DUNNIGAN, Pat 1-2 0-1 2; RYAN, Kevin 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 20-49 12-18 55. ONEONTA....................... 28 33 - 61 Hartwick College.............. 25 30 - 55 3-point goals-ONEONTA 6-15 (COFFEY, Sean 4-8; BRATT, Eric 1-1; REARDON, Michael 1-3; WYSOCKI, Josh 0-1; MEDINA, Daniel 0-2), Hartwick College 3-17 (KINDLON, Tim 2-5; COCOZZIELLO, Jan 1-5; LANFEAR, Alex 0-1; HULICK, Albe 0-3; DUNNIGAN, Pat 0-1; RYAN, Kevin 0-2). Fouled out--ONEONTA-None, Hartwick College-None. Rebounds-ONEONTA 27 (COFFEY, Sean 6), Hartwick College 31 (BROWN, Anthony 12). Assists-ONEONTA 11 (REARDON, Michael 6), Hartwick College 11 (COCOZZIELLO, Jan 4). Total fouls-ONEONTA 19, Hartwick College 16. A-1011 Holiday Inn Classic First Round Oneonta State advances to tomorrows final against St. Joseph's at 2 p.m.