HAMBURG, N.Y. –  After building a double-digit lead just eight minutes into the game, the Hilbert College men's basketball team coasted to a 84-69 non-conference victory over Houghton College (2-1) tonight in the Hafner Recreation Center.

Jalen Smith had another hot-hand tossing in 26 points and  David Arlaud was just as prolific adding 18 points on near perfect shooting.

Hilbert opened the game with scoring from Smith (5 points), Nicholas Parucki (five) as well as Derrek Carman / David Arlaud's jumpers in the paint before Kirkland Ottey struck from deep at 12:50 that gave the Hawks a 17-6 spread.

Arlaud went on a personal 6-point run just before Hunter Martineau's made three set the score at 26-10  with just over 8:30 left in the half.  Hilbert built a 21-point spread at 7:49 but slowed production to take a 47-31 advantage to the locker room.

Hilbert opened the second stanza on a 26-4 run and held a 73-37 lead at 12:18. 

Houghton found their offensive confidence just as Hilbert grew content.  The Highlanders inched their way back into the game. 

That 36-point lead dropped to only 13 points with just over two minutes remaining in the game.  Houghton went on their own 19-0 run over a five minute span and cut the score to 80-67.

13 different Hilbert players saw court time tonight with 12 of the Hawks getting seven minutes or more.

Jalen Smith sank 4-of-7 3-point shots and made 10-of-12 from the foul line.  He added four steals and four assists in 22 minutes of action.  David Arlaud made 8 of his 9 shots and went 2-for-2 at the charity stripe. 

Hunter Martineau (3-for-4, plus four assists and three steals), Nicholas Parucki (4-of-5) and Joseph Braniecki (4-of-5) each notched nine points.

The Hawks shot the ball well hitting 58.8% of their attempts with a blistering 7-for-13 from deep.  They matched the Highlanders' efforts on the glass with 34 rebounds but collected 14 assists and 10 steals tonight.

Hilbert (3-1) will take a few days off to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday before they return to campus in preparation of their non-conference game at Alfred University Saturday.  The game time has been pushed back to 7pm to accommodate the Saxon's National Division III second-round football game they are hosting earlier in the day.