BOX - John Carroll - Potsdam

HAMBURG, N.Y. – Just as they did one day earlier, Nazareth used a big second-half effort to earn back-to-back victories.  The Golden Flyers (4-5) posted a 70-63 road win over Hilbert College (8-1) and claimed the Hilbert Tip-Off Tournament championship January 4.  Earlier in the day, John Carroll (8-3) took a commanding 93-57 victory over Potsdam (1-7) in the consolation game.

Coach Rob deGrandpre and his staff are currently guiding the Hawks to the program's best season in the AMCC-era of competition stringing eight-straight wins together to start the season.

Nicholas Nadeau led Nazareth College  with a career-high 31 points while Maurice Mills picked up another double-double adding 23 points and 23 rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots.  Mills established a new single-game rebounding record in the 5th Annual Hilbert Tip-Off.

Jerame Owens lifted Hilbert with his 5th double-double this season collecting 10 points and 12 rebounds.  The junior forward also earned game high-honors with four blocked shots before fouling out with 1:02 to go.

Jordan Kumro posted another double-digit scoring game hitting 50% from long distance to balance the score sheet with 15 points.  Senior Ryan Brewster was tough in the paint grabbing four offensive rebounds (nine total), with one block and eight points.

Owens, Nadeau and Mills joined John Carroll's David Linane and Potsdam's Rishawd Hendricks on the All-Tournament team.

After trading baskets in the first few minutes of the championship game, Hilbert took a lead for good at 14:28 when Jordan Kumro knocked down the first of his five three-pointers.  The Hawks went on a 7-0 run to build a 15-6 lead and they stretched it to 10 points on several occasions.  Hilbert entered the locker room with a big lift after Ryan Bradt tipped-in a bucket at the horn to give the hosts a 29-21 lead. 

Hilbert and Nazareth were close statistically with the Hawks holding the advantage in made shots beyond the arc (3/10 vs 0/6).  Jordan Kumro and Maurice Mills led their respective teams with 9 points by the break, but Mills led all rebounds with 10.

Nazareth chipped away at the Hawks early in the second half and took over the lead at 14:11(35-34) when Mills scored on a driving layup.  Nazareth's defense held the Hawks scoreless for the next five minutes and built their largest lead of 14 (51-37) at 10:03.

Jerame Owens' four points pushed the Hilbert 8-1 run which cut the difference to seven points, but that was as close as the game would get down the stretch.  Nazareth sank 8-of-10 free throws to clinch the victory and hold off the Hawks comeback.

Nazareth finished the game shooting 39% from the floor while the Hawks struggled for the first time this season at 31.8% (21.7% from beyond the arc).  Hilbert forced 12 Nazareth turnovers and finished with seven team blocks but were out rebounded by six.

John Carroll took a 93-57 victory over Potsdam in the consolation game. After a 55-26 first half rout, the Blue Streaks never looked back.
 
John Carroll, who had twelve players record at least two points, was led by David Linane's 18 points on seven of nine shooting. Linane was a perfect three-for-three from long-range and one-for-one from the charity stripe. Will Starks added 17 points and Danny Wallack chipped in 14 for the Blue and Gold. Doug Caputo led all players with 9 rebounds.
 
Rishawd Hendricks led the Bears of Potsdam with 12 points and Greg Torchon added 10.
 
John Carroll shot a stifling 10 for 16 from long-range in the first half and finished the game 52% from behind the arc (49% from the floor). Potsdam struggled to find their rhythm and shot 34% from the floor and 25% from long-range. John Carroll also forced 19 Potsdam turnovers, while dishing out 19 assists of their own. John Carroll's starting center, Jake Hollinger recorded a game-high four assists.
 
John Carroll started the game on a 11-2 run. The Bears pulled within five (11-6) but that was the closest they would come as the Blue Streak's defense forced tough shots and turnovers for Potsdam. Linane led the scoring attack for John Carroll as he generated all 18 of his points in the first half, shooting a perfect seven for seven from the floor.
 
The 29-point halftime deficit was too much for the Bears to overcome and a Danny Wallack three-pointer with 7:35 remaining in the game gave John Carroll their largest lead of the night at 45 (85-40).
 
NOTES:
 
Several single game records were broken:
 
Sean Weisansal, Hilbert vs Potsdam – six steals
David Linane, John Carroll vs Nazareth – eight assists
Maurice Mills, Nazareth vs Hilbert – 23 rebounds
John Carroll – TEAM – 16 made three-pointers vs Potsdam
 
Several tournament records were also established:
 
Maurice Mills, Nazareth – 36 rebounds
Doug Caputo, John Carroll – tied FT% - 87.5%

Hilbert returns to action January 7th when they travel to AMCC foe, Pitt Bradford with the women's team.