BRADFORD, Pa.  –  After trailing by 10 points at intermission and then 19 points with 13 minutes left in regulation, the Hilbert College Men's Basketball team battled to the final horn. 

The Hawks secured an 82-81 road win at Pitt-Bradford in the KOA Center tonight.
 
Eric Jackson got his number called for the last second shot and he answered, hitting a short jumper in the lane with 2.8 seconds remaining regulation.  The Hawks (11-12) defended in the full court and improved to 8-5 in the league standings, ensuring their ability to host a First Round play-off game next Tuesday night.
  
HIGHLIGHTS

Jahmel Demery was solid at both ends of the court leading Hilbert with 16 points (8-of-10 FG) and 11 rebounds (4 offensive) to collect his third double double of the season. 
 
Edward Perez led the Hawks with 19 points, sinking 7-of-10 at the free throw line, and Eric Jackson was credited with a team-best four assists, four steals while tossing in 15 points, hitting 6-of-7 shots from the floor.
 
Quran Briggs also notched double figures, scoring 14 points while cleaning the glass for six rebounds, the second most on the team tonight.  Zach Miller added nine big points, all from downtown as his hits helped the Hawks during their second-half rally.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Hilbert started the game strong, then went cold from the floor. 
• The Hawks built their largest lead in the game five minutes into the contest (12-5) but it then took them three more minutes before Demery broke the ice which set the 16-14 score in favor of the hosts.  
• Bradford went on a 9-0 run, then extended it to 11 with five minutes remaining (33-22) in the half.
• Hilbert hung around, trading basket-for-basket through to half time, but trailed 41-31 at the break.
• Bradford extended their lead to 19 points (62-43) at the 12:42 mark and then the Hawks woke up.
• Jackson and Demery started the Hilbert comeback combining for the first eight points.
• Nevada Eldridge clipped the difference to 11 points and then Demery and Jackson, again, brought it to an eight point spread (67-59) with nine minutes on the game clock.
• Zach Miller knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers, inching Hilbert to a 66-70 score and then Briggs made two at the foul line to pull within three points 72-69.
• Bradford went back up by seven, yet the Hawks did not quit.
• Miller struck again from deep, Jackson made both at the charity stripe, Demery scored in the paint and Eldridge converted an offensive rebound into two more points in the paint, which made it a one-point game with 1:46 left. 
• Both teams traded one free throw each and after the Panthers' missed second free throw the Hawks called a timeout to set up the winning play for Jackson to penetrate from the point to the block, earning the game winner. 

GAME NOTES

The Hawks improved their field goal shooting percentage to 61.29-percent in the second half, but they made only 10-of-18 free throws in the final twenty minutes.
Hilbert held a slight edge on the glass (32-29) and made 24 trips the foul line.
Bradford shot the ball well both halves and finished the game hitting 53.8-percent from the floor. 
 
UP NEXT

The Hawks will host their Senior Day celebration February 18 when they welcome Mount Aloysius in the Hafner.  Make plans now to be in attendance to honor Wendell Abellard, Zach Miller, Elijah Powell and student-coach and former two-year player Jesse Price.

The Hawks will then turn around and host a First Round play-off game Tuesday, February 21 at 7pm in the Hafner Recreation Center.