ALTOONA, Pa – What a come back!

For the second year in a row, the #5 Hilbert College men's basketball team battled #4 Penn State Altoona in a First Round game of the  Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference play offs. 

This year, the Hawks clawed their way back from a 10-point deficit and captured a 77-72 road win over the Lions.

Masia Phillips carried the Hawks to the finish line with a perfect 8-for-8 from the foul line in the final 90-seconds of the game. 

Hilbert, who now advances to the AMCC Championship Weekend for the program's sixth time in the last seven years, will face the hosts,  #1 La Roche College Saturday, February 24 in a 1pm game at the Kerr Fitness Center in Pittsburgh, Pa.

The men's basketball team survived this game at the foul line.  The Hawks attempted the most 3-point shots in the program's recent history (31) after losing two of their starting big-men (Nicholas Parucki and Joseph Braniecki) to season-ending injuries.  They struggled on the defensive boards as the Lions were credited with 15 offensive rebounds which they converted into big second chance points through the first 34 minutes of the game.

But Hilbert picked up their defensive intensity and shut-down the Lions in the final six minute run to come from behind and shock the 300 fans at the game who thought their home team had the game in the bag.

Masia Phillips earned game-high honors with 22 points (9-of-12 at the foul line) and pulled down nine rebounds.  Hunter Martineau added 16 points, matched the rebounding effort with nine boards and added four assists and two steals.

Freshman Tyler Aquilina earned the start for injured Joseph Braniecki and he posted his second-best scoring performance with 14 points.  Fellow freshman Antonio Alvarez reached double figures with 12 points and led the Hawks with 12 rebounds earning his third career double-double.

Senior David Arlaud reached for four offensive rebounds and finished with eight in the game while scoring seven points (3-for-4 at the foul line) down the stretch.

Altoona started the game with a dunk just seconds after the tip and jumped out to a 6-0 lead before David Arlaud got the Hawks on the scoreboard.  The Lions stretched their hold to seven (10-3) before Hilbert's offense caught fire. 

Six minutes into the game, Hilbert took their first lead (15-14) after scoring seven un-answered points.  Masia Phillips found a lane in the paint and then Hilbert hit back-to-back threes.  Antonio Alvarez knocked down his long distance shot first, grabbed a defensive rebound and then feed Phillips who stopped and popped in transition. 

Both teams offensive production mirrored each other but the Lions kept play in their offensive end longer as they lived on the offensive glass. Altoona stretched their lead to five, 29-24, and then called a timeout with 5:42 remaining.

Aquilina responded with a deep shot and David Arlaud grabbed a defensive rebound which set up  an easy layup for Anthony Buisch who knotted the game at 29 all.

The Hawks found themselves down by four again (33-29) before Martineau had a hand in Hilbert retaking the lead again.  The sophomore point guard scored in transition then found an open Tyler Aquilina on the weak side of the zone for an open trifecta setting it in Hilbert's favor, 36-35.

Each team played through a couple empty trips before the Lions grabbed another offensive rebound and scored.

The Hawks missed  a shot from downtown but Jonathan Jackson grabbed an offensive rebound allowing the Hawks to hold for last shot of the half.  Alvarez's three-pointer bounced off rim but Aquilina was fouled on his tip-in attempt.  He sank his second shot which forced a 37-37 half time score.

Altoona looked in control early at the start of the second half but Hilbert battled back and knotted the game on several occasions in the first six minutes.

But where Hilbert looked to live by the 3-point line, the Lions lived in the paint, either on penetration scores or on the offensive glass setting up a second-chance scores.

Altoona matched their largest lead of the game (58-51) and then extended the spread to 10 points on multiple occasions. 

The Lions got complacent and didn't finish like they had in the opening half and Hilbert hung around.

David Arlaud started the come-back at 5:01 when he converted both free throws slicing into the eight point deficit.  Martineau struck from downtown pulling Hilbert within five at 3:02.

After forcing the Lions to a missed shot just before they were whistle for a shot-clock violation, Martineau came-up with a defensive rebound and scored in transition setting a 70-67 score. 

Ryan Hogan was credited with a blocked shot on defense which led to Hilbert's fast break the other way.  Martineau missed a driving lay up but Arlaud muscled his way in for an offensive rebound which found its way to Phillips at the weak block for an easy score in the paint at 1:45. (70-69)

Phillips, who was immediately fouled after he came down with his sixth defensive rebound, went to the other end of the floor for a double bonus visit at foul line.  He lifted Hilbert on top for the first time in the second half and silenced the crowd.

Altoona traveled in the paint at 1:14 and both teams went to their benches for a timeout.

The Hawks broke the Lions full court press with ease and Phillips was fouled going to the basket.  He sank both shots creating a three-point separation, now in Hilbert's favor.  

Alvarez cleaned the glass for his ninth defensive rebound which transitioned into Hilbert using the full 30-seconds of their possession without getting a shot off.  Altoona had the ball with 23.1 seconds on the clock and trailed 73-70.

The Lions went to the rack and missed another lay up in the lane and Phillips was in the right place to secure the rebound.  He, once again went 2-for-2 at the line building a five point lead. But the game wasn't over yet.

With 0:09.6 Altoona was fouled in transition and went to the line for a 1 and 1.  They converted both making it a 75-72 game. 

And for the last time in the game, Phillips went to the foul line with 0:07.6 on the clock. His first attempt touched every side of the round rim and dropped in while the second shot hit nothing but net.

Altoona's final shot was off and Hilbert's big rally for the win paid off.

The Hawks shot only .351 percent from the floor (continued to play through six big-time blocked shots) and made only seven of their 31 three-point attempts (22.6%) while hitting only 16-of-26 at the charity stripe, but they out-rebound the hosts (55-51) earning six more offensive rebounds and stayed together believing they could win.

Stay connected to the AMCCsports.com website for 2018 Tournament updates.  Joining Hilbert and La Roche this weekend will be #2 Penn State Behrend facing #4 Medaille at 3:30pm.  The two winners from the Saturday semifinal games will battle in the 1pm Championship Game February 25 with the winner earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament.

Be sure to stay up-to-date on all your Hilbert Hawks scores and awards by following @HilbertAthletic on Twitter and by liking the "Hilbert College Athletics" Facebook page.  Additionally fans of the Hawks who have an Apple device can receive push notification from the newly created Hilbert College Hawks iOS SIDEARM mobile App which can be found in the Apple Store and ITunes.