HAMBURG, N.Y. – The Hilbert College Men's Basketball team battled through 22 lead changes, in a game where the largest point differential was ten points midway through the first half, to outlast the Lions down the stretch earning the Hawks their second Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference victory this week.
 
Hilbert (2-0) held a 96-92 lead in the final 20 seconds of the game before each team made trips to the charity stripe.  The Lions (1-1) struck from deep and made it a one-point game with seven seconds left before Zach Miller and Edward Perez sealed the deal with four consecutive free throw to secure the 101-96 victory.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

Five Hilbert Hawks reached double digit points, led by Quran Briggs who poured in 22 points.  Edward Perez came up with big buckets hitting 7-of-10 of his shots from the floor and going 7-for-7 at the foul line to add 21 points and three steals. 
 
Eric Jackson tossed in 18 points, scoring buckets in flurries at times, finishing with identical 6-for-7 success rate from the field and foul line, while Nevada Eldridge added 15 points as Zach Miller posted 12 points, leading at the foul line (9-for-10).
 
Shaheem Ellis led the Hawks with four assists and pulled down five rebounds.  Desmond Davis tossed in five points, garnered three offensive rebounds as Austin Boies chipped in three points down the stretch.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Altoona attempted to set the pace in the game early as the Lions pushed the ball up the floor looking for quick hits in transition after a made bucket or trips to the foul line. 
• Briggs' three-point play gave the Hawks their first lead, 7-6 at 16:54.  Hilbert continued to defend well in transition and limited easy scores in the paint as they created a 20-14 score at the 13-minute mark.
• Perez continued to lift the Hawks as they stretched their lead to eight points with nine minutes left, and he again gave Hilbert their largest lead (35-25) with 7:17 left in the half.
• Momentum shifted in the Lions favor - they went on a 19-9 run which was capped off by a dunk to take the lead (44-43) with 1:22 on the game clock.
• Davis evened the game at 44-all before Altoona took the 46-44 lead to the locker rooms.
• The Lions began to warm-up from beyond the arc and built a 58-52 advantage at the start of the second half but the Hawks didn't quit.
• Miller made a trip to the foul line (went 3-for-3) and started the Hawks come-back. 
• Eldridge's jumper outside the lane knotted the game at 64-all and Miller's long distance trey set the 70-66 score two minutes later.
• Hilbert continued to pour in points, and after Briggs made two at the foul line (71-71), the Hawks never relinquished the lead the rest of the game. 
• For every 3-pointer the Lions hit, Hilbert responded immediately at the other end and never lost their edge.
• Altoona pulled within one point (97-98) after drilling their 5th 3-pointer in the second half with seven seconds remaining. 
• Miller and Perez finished strong at the foul line for the win.

GAME NOTES 

• Hilbert won the game on the boards, building a 46-27 margin, and made 44 trips to the foul line converting 34 shots from 15 feet out.
• Altoona forced 24 Hilbert turnovers thanks to their full-court pressure and quarter-court switching-up zone defense.
• The Hawks finished the game hitting 52.2% from the floor, and 77.3% from the foul line while Altoona hit 48.7% from the field, made 11 3-pointers and were awarded 14 free throws, hitting 11 for the game.

 UP NEXT

The 2-0 Hawks will host Alfred State College Wednesday, January 11th at 7pm in the Hafner Recreation Center.  As a reminder, all mid-week AMCC games are single league contests with each campus hosting a 7 pm on their campus.  The Hilbert Women will be at Alfred State next Wednesday.