Alfred took an early lead and led 35-31 at the half.
Hartwick responded in the second half, tying the game at 41-all on a pull up jumper by freshman guard Jan Cocozziello (New Hampton Prep/Westfield, N.J.) with 16:19 left in the game. The Hawks led by as many as four, taking a 62-58 lead with 5:11 left in the game on a jumper by Cocozziello.
The Saxons answered with a 7-0 run on an inside bucket by Stein, a three-pointer by junior guard Ryan Clemenson (South Seneca/Ovid, N.Y.), and a layup by Clemenson with 2:17 left to take a 65-62 lead.
After a free throw by Hartwick’s Pat Dunnigan (Vernon Twp/Sussex, N.J.) cut the lead to one, 65-63, and a missed three-point try by Clemonson, Hartwick had a chance to tie the game with 52 seconds left, but Hartwick freshman forward Anthony Brown (North Division/Milwaukee, Wisc.) couldn’t get a lay up to drop with 52 seconds left.
Stein converted on the other end to give Alfred a 67-63 lead that proved insurmountable.
Stein was 7-7 from the floor for the Saxons (6-5, 1-0), who also got 16 points from senior guard Quentin Bryant (Seneca Vocational/Buffalo, N.Y.). Clemenson added 12 and senior forward Todd Dersham (Campbell-Savona/Campbell, N.Y.) 11.
Hartwick was led by 20 from Cocozziello, 14 from Dunnigan, and 11 from senior guard Tim Kindlon (Bethlehem/Delmar, N.Y.). Brown finished with eight points, six rebounds, three blocks and four assists. The Hawks fall to 6-6, 0-1 in the Empire 8.
Hartwick will host St. John Fisher tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 p.m. Alfred travels to Utica College for a 4:00 p.m. tip off.