HAMBURG, N.Y. – Hilbert College Men's Basketball, currently riding a five-game win streak, held on for a clean sweep against four Empire 8 programs this month after they worked for a 64-62 win over Alfred University.
 
The Hawks (6-1) and Saxons (1-4) reversed scores each half, but Hilbert had built a large enough cushion to earn the two-point win at Alfred even with their three-pointer at the buzzer.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
 
Shaheem Ellis, Quran Briggs and Larry Morse continue to propel the Hawks to victories.
 
Ellis led with 24 points and four assists.  He connected on 7-of-14 shots, (3-9 from deep) and missing only one free throw in eight attempts while also leading the Hawks on the glass with seven rebounds.

Briggs tossed in 17 points after shooting the ball extremely well (8-for-12) which included one 3-pointer and Morse gave the Hawks 12 points and two assists along with six rebounds.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED 

• The Hawks exploded out of the gate building a double-digit lead (12-2) just five minutes into the game scoring all their points in the lane.  Hilbert stretched the margin to 15 points fueled by Ellis' 5-point run.  Sonny Williams made a pair at the foul line for the 21-4 lead which the Hawks maintained the next seven minutes until Ellis struck from downtown again setting the 34-16 score.
• Alfred sliced the margin to 11 points by half time after knocking in a pair from beyond the arc along with a tip in at the buzzer.
• Hilbert didn't know what hit them at the start of the second half when Alfred drained eight hits from downtown and took an 8-point lead just ten minutes into the session.
• Hilbert inched back into the lead after Ellis finished an old fashioned 3-point play and Morse found room in the paint setting the 55-all score at 3:50.
•  Ellis knocked down another 3 before Morse hit a short jumper to lift the score back toward Hilbert (60-59).  Ellis made both shots at the charity stripe and Briggs finished a fastbreak lay up to give the Hawks the cushion they needed with 0:29 on the clock.  Alfred had a few deep looks and with six seconds remaining, snuck one more in for the final 64-62 Hilbert win. 

GAME NOTES 

• The Hawks hit 48.3% from the floor including a trio of 3-pointers as well as 6-of-7 at the charity stripe while Alfred converted only 33% of their field goal attempts (3-13 from three) and went 3-of-4 at the foul line in the first half.
• The Saxons turned up the heat in the second half by hitting eight 3-pointers but never made a trip to the foul line as Hilbert cooled to 40.7% including only one made 3-pointer.
• Hilbert outscored Alfred 16-5 on points off turnovers yet neither team coughed up the ball much.
• The Saxons outscored Hilbert 14-2 on second chance points, yet Hilbert built a 10-oint advantage (34-24) in points on the paint – many off fast break points (10-2). 

UP NEXT
 
Hilbert (6-1) returns to the Hafner Recreation Center for the first game of the double header with the women's team this Saturday.  They both welcome SUNY Canton November 30 with the men's tip set for 2:00 pm.