HAMBURG, N.Y. – Hilbert's second-half come-back fell short tonight as the Hawks (5-2) suffered a 77-64 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference defeat to Penn State Behrend (7-0) tonight in men's basketball.

Both teams looked sharp in the early stages of the game, matching shot for shot, but after Behrend took a 10-9 lead, they never looked back the rest of the first half. 

The Lions were hot from the floor, hitting at a 62.1% clip either from deep (6-for-13) or in the paint (22 points) and had already gathered 12 assists in 20 minutes. 

Masia Phillips led with 10 points for the Hilbert who shot just 38.7% from the floor in the opening half.  The Hawks trailed 49-31 heading into the locker room. 

The Lions widened the margin to 22 points on several occasions in the second half, but the Hawks showed  their trade-mark standard of a late-game rally.

Behrend led 63-42  at 13:39 and then Phillips took over.  The sophomore guard scored 12 of Hilbert's 17 points in a run which saw the Hawks outscore the Lions 17-5. 

Jonathan Jackson's 3-point shot at 3:53 sliced the margin down to under ten (68-59) for the first time in almost thirty minutes.

But Behrend knocked down a long ball on their next offensive possession and finished the game hitting their free throws in the win.

Phillips led with 20 points and Hunter Martineau added 15 points, five assists and led the team on the glass with seven rebounds.

Hilbert (8-5) returns to the hardwood this weekend against the Mt. Aloysius Mounties (1-12, 1-6 AMCC) at 1pm January 13.

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