Both teams made 10-of-25 field goal attempts in the first half. The Cardinals (24-0, 12-0 Empire 8) converted 12-of-26 field goals in the second half and held the Hawks to 6-of-29 shooting.
Senior forward Mike Leighton (Boothbay Regional/Trevett, Maine) made a free throw with 5:22 left to give Hartwick its biggest lead of the first half at 23-17.
St. John Fisher received eight points from junior forward Nick Bennett (Binghamton/Binghamton, N.Y.) and seven from senior swingman Jeff Sidney (Herkimer/Herkimer, N.Y.) to pull away in the second half.
Sidney finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, and junior forward Mike McGee (Notre Dame/Batavia, N.Y.) added 15. Bennett contributed 10 points and six rebounds, and junior guard Sean O’Brien (Orchard Park/Orchard Park, N.Y.) had eight points and seven assists.
Freshman swingman Eddie McAdoo (LaSalle Institute/Troy, N.Y.) had 11 points and junior guard Tim Kindlon (Bethlehem/Delmar, N.Y.) finished with eight to lead the Hawks. Freshman guard/forward Greg Betancourt (Northern Highlands/Allendale, N.J.), senior center Mike Wawrzonek (South Side/Rockville Centre, N.Y.) and senior forward Bill Lanchantin (Cambridge/Cambridge, N.Y.) each had seven points.
Hartwick will play host to Alfred University for an Empire 8 game at 4 p.m. Saturday.
ST. JOHN FISHER 60, HARTWICK 45 ST. JOHN FISHER (24-0) Jeff Sidney 5-9 4-6 15, Nick Bennett 4-10 0-1 10, Sean O’Brien 3-8 1-2 8, Mike McGee 6-12 0-0 15, Dan McSweeney 0-1 1-2 1, Pete Gillett 1-4 0-0 2, Dan Mueller 1-3 2-2 5, Isaiah Smalt 0-0 0-1 0, Charlie Zahn 2-4 0-0 4. Totals: 22-51 8-14 60. HARTWICK (2-21) Tim Kindlon 3-6 0-0 8, Greg Betancourt 1-11 5-6 7, Eddie McAdoo 4-11 0-0 11, Sterling Green 1-7 0-0 2, Mike Wawrzonek 3-9 0-0 7, Matt Simoneschi 0-3 0-0 0, Bill Lanchantin 3-5 0-0 7, Mike Leighton 1-2 1-2 3, Josh Mackenzie 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 16-54 6-8 45. St. John Fisher 27-33--60 Hartwick 28-17--45 3-Point Goals: St. John Fisher 8-22 (Jeff Sidney 1-1, Nick Bennett 2-6, Sean O’Brien 1-2, Mike McGee 3-9, Pete Gillett 0-1, Dan Mueller 1-3), Hartwick 7-25 (Tim Kindlon 2-4, Greg Betancourt 0-7, Eddie McAdoo 3-6, Sterling Green 0-2, Mike Wawrzonek 1-4, Bill Lanchantin 1-2). Fouled Out: None. Rebounds: St. John Fisher 38 (Jeff Sidney 9), Hartwick 34 (Mike Leighton 7). Assists: St. John Fisher 13 (Sean O’Brien 7), Hartwick 6 (Greg Betancourt, Mike Wawrzonek 2). Total Fouls: St. John Fisher 11, Hartwick 15.