HAMBURG, N.Y.  –  The AMCC Men's Basketball First Round play-off game, predicted to be another nail-biter between Hilbert and Pitt-Bradford, came down to the final possession of the game.  
 
The Panthers hung on to win tonight, 80-79, after the Hawks finished the job earlier in their two regular-season games.
 
Pitt-Bradford beat Hilbert for the first time this winter having fallen to the Hawks 90-89 in Hamburg and 82-81 at Bradford a week ago.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

Four Hawks reach double figure scoring, led by Quran Briggs who poured in 33 points while going 5-for-5 at the foul line and pulling down six rebounds.
 
Eric Jackson hit 3-of-4 shots from the floor, scoring 10 points, and matched Shaheem Ellis with team-high honors – five assists.
 
Both Jahmel Demery and Edward Perez (3 blocks) reached for 10 points and combined for 11 rebounds.
 
The AMCC league-leading scorer, Nathan Schneider was one assist away from posting a triple double.  He earned game-high honors with 38 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists playing the full 40-minute game.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 

• There were 24 lead changes, each team gaining the lead 12 times, and there were 18 times throughout the game where the score was tied, nine times forced by each team.
• The Panthers jumped out to a 7-2 lead early in the game but the Hawks took the wqent up 10-9 at 16:32.
• Hilbert maintained their advantage but a six-point run by the Panthers shifted the momentum back to the guests who build a 25-19 score.
• Desmond Davis hit in the lane and started a Hilbert run before the break.  Briggs followed with a three-point play and another jumper in the lane setting the 36-32 Hilbert lead.  Zach Miller drilled a 3-pointer with less than five seconds remaining in the half which gave the Hawks a 39-36 margin on the scoreboard.
• Hilbert took the court after half time and executed - they stretched their lead to 11 (52-41).
• Bradford traded buckets with the Hawks then they got hot, scoring seven unanswered points (56-52).
• Schneider hit a pair at the line to put the Panthers up just before Eric Jackson mirrored his results shifting the score again in Hilbert's favor.
• The Hawks created a five point lead late – 72-67, 3:13 – off a made three pointer. 
• Two empty Hilbert trips on offense allowed the Panthers to regain the lead off made free throws and three-point plays.
• Hilbert had chances to win down the stretch, but they went 2-for-5 at the foul line the last five seconds which included a deliberate miss in an effort to launch a 3-pointer to win.  The ball landed in Briggs hands and he attempted and made an off-balance jumper in the lane. 

GAME NOTES

• The Hawks forced 17 Bradford turnovers and converted those miscues into 24 points.  The Hawks were whistled for seven turnovers in the first half, four unforced travels and finished with 10 for the game.
• Bradford made 21-of-24 free throws for the win.

UP NEXT

Hilbert, who lost one game during the season due to a weather event, concluded their 2022-23 season at 12-13 overall. 

Pitt-Bradford advances to the AMCC Final Four Weekend and will square off against No. 2 Penn State Altoona Friday, February 24th at 2:30 pm.  No. 1 La Roche will battle No. 5 Penn State Behrend at 12pm.