ALBANY, N.Y. – A Russell Sage College three-point attempt at the buzzer hit off the back rim and caromed away to allow visiting Hartwick to escape the Kahl Campus Center with a 72-70 victory tonight.

The Gators, which got off to their best start to a season since 2014-15, erased an 11-point second half deficit to tie the game at 70 with 1:43 left before falling.

Junior Brandon Harris (Elmsford, NY/Alexander Hamilton/Herkimer CC) led RSC with a season-high 21 points.  It marked the fourth-consecutive game that the guard netted double figures.

Senior guard Noah Girard (Glens Falls, NY/Glens Falls), who became the fifth Gator to surpass 1,000 career points in the January 17 home win vs. Saint John Fisher, added 19 points. The program career leader for made three-pointers came up with five steals in the home setback to move into second-place in RSC career records.  Girard, currently in fourth place all-time with 1,058 career points, is guaranteed to close his senior season ranked in the top-four among Gators for career points, career steals, and career assists.

Sophomore guard Jden Golding (Green Cove Springs, FL/Clay) also scored in double figures with 10 points, while sophomore guard Deavion Springsteen (Albany, NY/Albany) contributed team-highs of eight assists and six rebounds.

Sophomore forward Henry Perkins (Albany, N.Y/Green Tech) tallied a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds to help the Hawks (3-15/3-6 E80 curb a five-game losing streak. The defensive lineman on the Hartwick football team, who blocked three RSC shot attempts, did much of his scoring at the foul line, including providing what proved to be the winning points with a pair of makes with 34 seconds remaining.

RSC had its chances from there, getting three different possessions to either tie or take the lead, but the late shots didn't fall tonight.

Looking ahead, the Gators (12-6/5-4 E8) play at Alfred at 7:30 PM.

Gator Bites: The 2024-2025 season marks the 16th for Brian Barnes at the helm of the Gators...RSC which boasts the top defense and best scoring margin in the E8, finish the regular season with seven of the final ten, including six of the last seven, games away from home…The Gators got off to a 12-3 record, their best start to a season since 2014-15…Nine returnees combine with seven newcomers on this year's edition…Girard and senior forward Todd Williamson (Schenectady, NY/Notre Dame Bishop Gibbons) were voted co-captains of this year's squad…Girard, the program's career leader for made three pointers, became just the fifth Gator to surpass 1,000 career points in the home win vs. Saint John Fisher on January 17…The co-captain started the week fourth in program records with 1,039 career points…He is guaranteed to finish his senior season ranked in the top-four in RSC records for career points, career assists, and career steals…Williamson was selected the E8 Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday, January 5…He registered team-highs of 16 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists in the home win vs. SUNY Cobleskill on January 3…Sophomore forward Avery Oduro-Dompreh (Elkridge, MD/Oakland Mills), is a presence in the post for the Gators...The forward began the week leading the Conference in blocks per-game and was ranked second in the E8 in rebounding.