ALFRED, N.Y. – Alfred University improved to 7-3 early in the year after they earned an 84-68 non-conference victory over Hilbert College in men's basketball this afternoon.
 
The Hawks led on the scoreboard the game's first six minutes until the Saxons knotted the game at 13:54.  Hilbert had to play catch-up the rest of the way at the Terry S. Galanis Family Arena.
 
HIGHT LIGHTS

Nevada Eldridge made 6-of-8 shots from the floor and went 3-for-4 at the foul line to lead Hilbert offensively with 15 points, dished a season-high five assists and was credited with two blocks in 28 minutes.  
 
Edward Perez, Eldridge's partner in the paint, tossed in 13 points, shooting 60% from the field, and he earned game-high honors with nine rebounds while Quran Briggs added 10 points and two assists.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Eldridge and Perez scored back-to-back shots in the paint giving Hilbert the early 4-3 advantage before Briggs' four-point run ensured the Hawks'  lead through the first five minutes of action.
• Alfred State knotted the game at 8-8 and took a two point lead before the Hawks evened the game at 10-all at the 13–minute mark.
• The Saxons went on an 8-0 run which eventually turned out to be the difference on the scoreboard by half time.
• Shaheem Ellis (2) and Perez (6) strung together a nice run which inched Hilbert back to a two-point spread, but Alfred extended their control back to a 10-point lead.  Ellis and Zach Miller went 4-for-4 at the foul line to cut the difference to seven (35-28) at half.
• The Hawks were able to pull within two points on three different occasions, and Miller's 3-point make created a 46-45 score at 13:46.
• Two empty offensive trips by Hilbert combined with Alfred's three consecutive offensive successes took the wind out of the Hawks sails.
• Eric Jackson, started a mini-Hilbert run with two, Austin Boies earned an offensive put-back, three-point play, while Jahmel Demery hit a short jumper in the paint.  Jackson converted his offensive rebound into two more points and Demery's made jumper sliced the margin back to a five-point game with eight minutes remaining.
• The Hawks lost their momentum and found themselves down by double digits with less than five minutes left in the game.

GAME NOTES 

• Hilbert shot much better in the second half, hitting 53.57% from the field but made only 9-of-15 at the foul line.  The Hawks finished the game sinking 26-of-60 shots and made only one of seven 3-pointers.
• Alfred had four players notched double digit scoring as they closed the game making 50% of their field goal attempts, with a 12-of-26 rate from downtown.

UP NEXT

Hilbert (3-5) has a week to prepare for the program's final game of the fall semester.  The Hawks will host Hiram College Friday, December 16 in a 7:00 pm game in the Hafner Recreation Center.