HAMBURG, N.Y. – The Hilbert College men's basketball team suffered an 89-71 road loss to La Roche University in the First Round game of the AMCC Postseason tournament tonight.
 
The Hawks were unable to dig themselves out of the 21-point half time deficit, though they outscored the hosts in the second period.

THE BASICS

• Final Score:  La Roche 89   I  Hilbert 71
• Location: Ker Fitness Center, Pittsburgh, Pa.
• Records:  La Roche 15-11   I Hilbert 11-15

HIGHLIGHTS

• Four players reached double digit scoring, led by Nevada Eldridge who made 9-of-12 from the floor and finished a three-point play to collect 19 points.  Eric Jackson added 14 points, hitting .500-percent from the field and led with four assists, while Quran Briggs and Michael Pollard each tossed in ten points.  Pollard hit 3-for-4 from the field and made all four free throw attempts.

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Play was tight the first six minutes of the game as each team was searching for that run.  The scored was tied five times and two lead changes were made by the time the score board read 11-11 at 14:40. 
• The Redhawks scored eight un-answer points but Hilbert responded and trimmed the margin to one (18-19) midway through the first half.
• Missed Hilbert shots or Hawk turnovers couldn't keep pace with La Roche who seemed to convert after every offensive possession.  The hosts rode a 33-13 spurt to close the first half with a 52-31 lead.
• Eldridge had already collected 15 points to lead all scorers by half time.
• Briggs opened the scoring in the second half with a 3-pointer just 18 seconds in.
• Slowly the Hawks inched their way closer to La Roche pulling within eight points (65-73) with seven and a half minutes remaining.
• Hilbert was able to keep it a 10-point game for the next two minutes but the Hawks turned the ball over four of their final eight possessions to fall in defeat, 89-71.
• Eldridge and Pollard were perfect from the floor in the second half, hitting both their field goal attempts.  Jackson was 4-for-7, and Edward Perez went 4-for-6. 
• Briggs and Quran each knocked down two 3-point shots as Hilbert outscored the Redhawks 40-37 in the final 20 minutes of their season.

GAME NOTES

• Hilbert improved their shooting percentage in the second half and closed the game at 48.3%.  The Hawks committed eight more turnovers than La Roche which resulted in 15 fewer field goal attempts. 
• The Redhawks were on fire in the first half, hitting .589-percent from the floor but cooled in the second session; they still connected at a .534-clip by the final horn.  
• La Roche outscored Hilbert 20-4 in points off turnovers, 15-8 in second chance points and 50-38 in points in the paint. 

UP NEXT

• Hilbert concluded their season at 11-15 but returned to the AMCC postseason tournament for the 12th time, the most of any Hilbert program. 
• No. 1 Penn State Behrend will host the tournament's final four week on Friday/Saturday February 25 & 26.  No. 2 Penn State Altoona joins Behrend with a First Round bye and they advance to the Final Four.
• Medaille advances to the opening semifinal game Friday against No. 1 Penn State Behrend (6:00 pm) and La Roche advances to Friday's nightcap semifinal game against No. 2 Penn State Altoona (8:30 pm). 
• The AMCC league champion will be crowned Saturday (3:00 pm) and will earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.