ONEONTA, N.Y. – Russell Sage College began its week of three-straight road games by falling at Hartwick 76-66 on Tuesday night.
Junior forward/center Will Ruiz (Bronx, NY/Wings Academy) led the Gators with a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds. Junior forward Tahirou Hamidou (Bronx, NY/Carolina Basketball Academy/Livingstone) also recorded a double-double in the Empire 8 Conference road setback, registering 11 points and a like number of rebounds.
Guard Ryan Long (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park), a graduate student, added 11 points.
Hartwick (7-13/6-8 E8) opened up some breathing room with a 13-1 run later in the first half to hold a 39-27 lead at the break. RSC trailed by double-digits for much of the second half, before getting within six on two occasions during the final minute.
Sophomore guard Cooper Francis paced the victors with 22 points and 10 rebounds. He was one of four Hawks to score in twin figures.
Looking ahead, RSC (3-18/1-13 E8) plays next on Friday night at Houghton.
Notes: The Gators, coming off an Empire 8 Conference Championship Tournament appearance, graduated all five starters from last season…Nine players, accounting for just 21.22 percent of scoring and 16.82 percent of rebounding, are back…They joined nine newcomers to make up this year's roster…Sophomore guard Noah Girard (Glens Falls, NY/Glens Falls) and guard Ryan Long (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park), a graduate student, were voted co-captains...Head Coach Brian Barnes, now in his 14th season, began the campaign with a 167-153 overall record.
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