HAMBURG, N.Y. – In an exciting finish, the Hilbert College Men's Basketball team captured a 78-75 non-conference victory against Fredonia State tonight in front of just under 200 fans in the Hafner Recreation Center. 
 
The Hawks dug themselves out of a 14-point hole with twelve minutes left in the game to pull out the win against the Blue Devils.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

Nevada Eldridge earned team-high honors with 21 points with seven rebounds, four on the offensive glass. 
 
Shaheem Ellis came through down the stretch and added 16 points along with four assists and Quran Briggs finished with 14 points and four assists.  Edward Perez (seven points) led the Hawks with nine rebounds and two blocked shots

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Hilbert built their largest lead 20-13 seven minutes into the first half and then hit a slump, allowing the Blue Devils to gather themselves offensively.   Fredonia found their space and rhythm from deep and scored seven shots from downtown which gave them a 41-38 lead by the break.
• Statistically, both teams were even at half time, except for the field goals made from beyond the arc by the Blue Devils.
• The Hawks started their come-back around the 12-minute mark when they trailed 59-47 midway through the second half.
• Eric Jackson started the run with an old fashioned three-point play before Eldridge hit both his free throws which made it an 8-point spread at 9:55.
• After a few empty possessions, the hosts came up big with an out-of-bounds, 3-point make by Ellis thanks to the inbounds pass delivered by Austin Boies.
• Those two hooked up again after Boies was credited with a steal which led the an Ellis fastbreak layup.  The Hawks held the Blue Devils defensively before Briggs layed in his missed shot to slice the deficit to one point (60-61).
• At 6:47, Boies gave the Hawks their first lead in the second half after he stole the ball and went full court for a fastbreak layup (62-61).
• Fredonia knotted the game at 63-all, went back on top fueled by back-to-back 3-point makes (69-67) but went cold from beyond the arc after that thanks to the zone defense Hilbert threw at them.
• Eldridge (in the paint), Briggs (2-4 FT), Perez (3-point play) combined to keep the score close (74-75) but it was Ellis' made jumper and then his blocked shot that led to Zach Miller's trip to the foul line which gave Hilbert their 78-75 win. 

GAME NOTES 

• The Hawks earned 17 second chance points and were credited with 13 fast break points – beyond those advantages, the stat-line was very similar to Fredonia.
• The Blue Devils finished the game hitting 12-of-34 from deep while the Hawks made only 4-of-14 attempts but Hilbert outworked Fredonia 42-33 in rebounds. 

UP NEXT

Hilbert (2-1) is planning on hosting Keuka College this Saturday, November 19 with a 1pm tip.  Stay connected to social media for any weather-related changes.