HAMBURG, N.Y.  –  In another thriller today, the Hilbert Men's Basketball team earned a 104-97 overtime victory against Mount Aloysius. 

After playing to an 89-all score in regulation, the Hawks put the game away at the foul line down the stretch.  Hilbert made 11-of-12 free throws, outscoring the Mounties 15-8 in overtime.
 
The Hawks, who swept the Mounties this season after winning an 84-83 overtime victory in Cresson, Pa in January, evened their overall record to 12-12 and 9-5 in the AMCC. 

Prior to the 1:00 pm tip, the team and athletic department honored and celebrated the athletic careers of seniors Wendell Abellard, Zach Miller, Elijah Powell and student assistant coach Jesse Price in a Senior Day ceremony with their families at center court.

Today's game was not the final home game for the seniors as they will have to chance to extend their season  next week.  Hilbert, the No. 3 seed in the upcoming AMCC post-season tournament, is making the program's 10th appearance over the last 11 seasons.  The Hawks will host the No. 6 Pitt-Bradford in the Hafner Recreation Center February 21st at 7:00 pm and the winner will advance to the AMCC Final Four weekend.

HIGHLIGHTS

Senior Zach Miller established a new career high this afternoon and his points were quality scores.  He tossed in 29 for the day, hitting 8-of-13 from downtown.

Quran Biggs added 24 points, matching nine made field goals to Millers and went 5-for-7 at the foul line, and Jahmel Demery chipped in 17 points and 12 rebounds and a team-best three steals as he and Briggs saw 35 minutes of the 45 minute, high-octan game.

Eric Jackson was impressive delivering the ball to his open teammates, finishing with six assists, 13 points with five made free throws, hitting all four in overtime.
 
Respect must be given to Mount Aloysius' Will Hagwood who led all scores with 51 points, all rebounders with 19 boards, game-high honors with four steals and matched Eric Jackson's six assists.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The game started slowly with neither team finding their rhythm offensively.  Miller's two makes at the foul line knotted the game at 7-7 but both teams traded buckets with Hilbert always maintaining a one-two possession lead until the Mounties pulled within one, 19-18. 
• The Hawks built their largest lead of 10 points on multiple occasions over a three minute span with Mount Aloysius dropped to a zone defense.   Miller's 3-pointer gave the Hawks their last 10-point lead (40-30) with 2:29 left in the half as the Mounties trimmed the difference to two points (42-20) after launching a made three near mid-court before the horn.
• There were six lead changes early in the second half, made by both teams. The Hawks, sorry, Zach Miller went on a 9-0 run, hitting consecutive shots beyond the arc to lift Hilbert out of a 53-all score to a nine-point lead 90-seconds later.  The Briggs continued the hurt as he connected from downtown next setting the 65-53 score.
• The Hawks held onto a double digit lead for the next two minutes but the Mounties found their way back into the game and knotted the score  76-all with 7:54 left.
• Both teams traded 3-pointers before Mt. Aloysius went up, 80-79, for the first time in the second half at 5:14.
• Hilbert and the Mounties battled through five lead changes with the Hawks going up by one (89-88) with 0:38, but MAC went one of two at the charity stripe to force overtime.
• Mount Aloysius took a 91-89 lead and Edward Perez forced the game's 21st tie score hitting two free throws.
• Jackson made two from 15 feet out and Briggs hit a jumper which maintained the Hilbert lead.
• Nevada Eldridge, Jackson and Briggs went 7-8 from the foul line as the Hawks limited the guest to just two points in that 9-2 Hawks run for the win.  

GAME NOTES

Hilbert outscored the Mounties an eye-popping 33-4 in points off turnovers and 34-8 in bench points.

The Mounties outworked Hilbert on the glass, picking the boards for 55-38 advantage, but committed 26 turnovers to Hilbert's eight.
 
UP NEXT

Hilbert, finishing as a top 4 team in the league, has earned the right to host the First Round game for the ninth time since the Hawks joined the AMCC at the start of the 2004-05 season.

The final field is set for the 2023 Men's AMCC Post-Season Tournament: 

No. 3 Hilbert will host No. 6 Pitt-Bradford and No. 4 Pitt-Greensburg will host No. 5  Penn State Behrend in a First Round game February 21.  No. 1 La Roche, tournament host, and No. 2 Penn State Altoona have earned First Round byes.

Semifinal games will take place early on Friday due to the 2023 Women's Championship weekend also taking place at La Roche.  No. 1 La Roche will face winner of 4/5 at 12 pm, and No. 2 Penn State Altoona will battle winner of 3/6 at 2:30 pm.

The Championship Game is set for Saturday, February 25th at 1:00 pm.