HAMBURG, N.Y. – The Hilbert College Men's Basketball team led from start to finish as they claimed an 87-71 non-conference victory over cross-town rival Medaille College tonight in the Hafner Recreation Center.
 
Four different Hawks notched double-digit points while Jahmel Demery posted the game's only double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.   

Hilbert was solid from the foul line, hitting 18-of-24 which maintained the Hawks' control in their 16-point win.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

Hilbert played with confidence right off the tip hitting 56.7-percent from the floor in the first half and cooled to a still very impressive 55.6-percent the second session while knocking down 5-of-8 from beyond the arc before half time.
 
Zach Miller and Nathan Moore each drilled 2-of-4 beyond the arc and their hits came at crucial times.
 
Nevada Eldridge led all scorers with 15 points, making 6-of-9 shots from the paint, while Quran Briggs tossed in 13 points and swiped three steals.

Eric Jackson was a stat sheet filler, adding 11 points, hitting 7-of-9 at the charity stripe, and dishing a game-high six assists in the win.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The fast-paced first half saw the Hawks take a two-point lead only to be matched by Medaille on their next trip on offense.  After four-tied scores, Hilbert began to pull away using a 12-0 run to set the 20-8 score.  Eldridge started the run, Briggs hit a jumper in traffic, Miller knocked down a 3-pointer, Elijah Powell hit a bunny in the paint and Edward Perez finished a 3-point play.
• Medaille hit their first shot from downtown just before Shaheem Ellis and Nathan Moore (2) combined for nine straight points stretching the margin to 13 points.
• Miller drilled his second three around the seven-minute mark (36-23) but the Mavericks didn't back down.  Medaille went on their own 11-2 run pulling within four points.
• Demery scored back-to-back buckets, made two free throws and Jackson went 4-for-6 at the foul line to lift Hilbert 48-38 at intermission.
• Hilbert held a double digit lead for all but 90-seconds in the second half.  Medaille struck from deep to slice the margin to nine (54-45) but that was as close as they would get.
• The Hawks handled Medaille's full court press with multiple trips using only four passes up the court for easy bucket in the paint. 
• Hilbert's largest lead in the game, against the 2022 AMCC Champions who went to the NCAA tournament last spring, was 18 points when Wendell Abellard scored his second break away layup for the 87-69 score.

GAME NOTES 

Hilbert converted 22 points off Medaille's 17 turnovers, led 40-34 in points in the paint and was credited with 18 fast break points in the win.
 
UP NEXT

Hilbert (3-3) has a week off before their next non-conference game.  The Hawks will travel with the women's team for a double header at Wells College Tuesday, December 6th.