HAMBURG, N.Y. – After building a slight edge by intermission, the Hilbert College Men's Basketball team slowed their offensive production and defensive coverage outside the arc in the second half as they suffered an 87-84 defeat to Hiram College tonight in the Hafner Recreation Center.
 
This evening's non-conference match was the first meeting in 20-years for the two teams as the Hawks head to the semester break with a 3-6 overall record while the Terriers improved to 7-4.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

Quran Briggs led the Hawks on the score board with 20 points and Shaheem Ellis tossed in 18 while swiping three steals from the Terriers.  Both Briggs and Ellis combined for 32 of the team's 45 first-half point production but dropped off a cliff with only six additional points after the break.
 
Edward Perez and Eric Jackson gave big second half efforts with Perez finishing the game with 16 points, 12 rebounds (5 offensive), four assists and two steals.  Jackson tossed in 12 points and was credited with nine rebounds as he and Jahmel Demery cleaned the offensive glass (4 each).  

HOW IT HAPPENED
 

• The Hawks built a 10-6 lead after five minutes of action fueled by Briggs' six point opening run and Ellis and Nevada Eldridge effort in the paint.
• Five minutes later Hiram took their first lead (18-17) ands stretched it to 23-19 before Ellis put on a show.  He went on a 16-point run, starting with a lay up before he finished the old fashioned three-point play 30-seconds later.  Ellis struck twice from downtown and hit a jumper from the floor just ahead of his third triple in that personal run to set the 37-all score with 2.5 minutes to go.
• Desmond Davis, Briggs (2 jumpers) and Perez' two makes at the foul line gave the Hawks the six-point cushion at half time.
• Perez' driving dunk from the foul line gave the Hawks a 56-43 just two and a half minutes into the second half and his 3-point play five minutes later built the largest lead (63-49).
• The Terriers found their rhythm from beyond the arc as they swung the momentum back in their favor after hitting four 3-pointers to knot the game 74-74 with just under four minutes left.
• Hiram manufactured a seven points but the Hawks continued to battle to the end. 
• Down by four with two seconds left, Eric Jackson made the first of two free throws and then deliberately missed the second in an attempt to set up a 3-point Hilbert heave before the horn. 

GAME NOTES 

• 11 guys filled the stat sheet tonight with some rookies gaining valuable playing time in the first half when the Hawks outscored Hiram 45-39.
• Besides the difference in three point shooting – Hiram was 11 for 30 and Hilbert was 4 for 10 - Hiram built a 37-9 advantage in bench points in a game decided by three points.

"Hiram was a very good team who shot the ball well all night long," said coach Rob deGrandpre. "But I am disappointed that we didn't make better decisions with the ball.  We have to learn to help ourselves and not hurt ourselves."
 
UP NEXT

The Hawks have a few weeks off from competition and will now go back home to enjoy their families and the holiday season.  Hilbert returns to action January 1, 2023 with a double header series at Case Western Reserve University after the women's teams play at 1:00 pm.