MAYEN’S 21 POINTS NOT ENOUGH TO LEAD EXPRESS PAST HARTWICK

(Oneonta, N.Y.)─ The Wells College men's basketball team fell 76-67 to the Hartwick College Hawks in the season opener for both squads Monday evening in Oneonta.
 
Freshmen Mabior Mayen (Syracuse, N.Y./Nottingham) finished with a team high 21 points, eight rebounds, and two assist to pace the Express. Junior Dave Foltz (Auburn, N.Y./Auburn) added 15 points and four rebounds, while junior Terry Harrison (Brooklyn, N.Y./Forest Hills) finished with nine points and a team high nine rebounds. Freshmen Benito Perez (Crystal City, Texas/Crystal City) and freshmen Israel Garcia (Cotulla, Texas/Cotulla) each scored eight points. Junior Andre Sawyers (Bronx, N.Y./Mt. St. Michaels Academy) chipped in with seven rebounds and four points off the bench for the Express.
 
The Hawks finished with three players in double figures led by Chris Ryder's game high 28 points on 10 of 14 shooting to go along with six rebounds. Jared Suderely finished with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Martin McCann chipped in with 13 points.
 
The Express shot 40.9 percent from the field but finished just 2-18 from behind the arc. The Hawks shot an impressive 52.6 percent from the field and 7-19 from behind the arc. Wells controlled the boards with a 43-32 rebound advantage, including an 18-6 advantage on the offensive boards.
 
It was a back and forth first half as neither team was able to take more than a eight point lead. Tied 18-18, free throws by Foltz and Harrison would give the Express a late 21-18 lead. The Hawks came flying back on a jumper and 3-pointer by Ryder that would spark a 7-0 run and lead to an eight point lead (33-25) with less than a minute to play in the half. Foltz drilled a 3-point shot with  37 seconds left, trimming the lead to 33-28 heading into halftime.
 
The Express opened up the second half with 10-2 run, taking a 38-35 lead. The Hawks would weather the early run by the Express and open up an 11 point lead (53-42) midway through the second half. The Express continued to battle, outscoring the Hawks 18-8 over the next six minutes, trimming the lead to one, 61-60 with 6:33 to play. The Hawks took over from there, holding the Express to seven points over the final minutes en route to the nine point victory.
 
The Express return to action Friday, Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. against Castleton State College in the Ken Wright '52 Invitational hosted by Amherst College in Amherst, Mass.