HAMBURG, N.Y. – In a thrilling season opener for both teams, Hilbert College narrowly defeated Buffalo State 71-69 in a hard-fought contest in the opening game of the Hawks Against Hunger Tip Off Tournament.

The game featured plenty of back-and-forth action, with six lead changes and five tied scores, but Hilbert's strong second half helped them edge Buffalo State, 71-69, with a bucket in the final seconds of the game.

Franciscan University outlasted Lycoming College, 75-70, in the night cap, and the Barons have advanced to the 3:00 pm championship game against the Hawks.

Lycoming will square off in the 1:00 pm consolation contest against Buffalo State University.

Key Performances:

• Hilbert:

  • Shaheem Ellis led the way with a spectacular 28-point performance, shooting 9-of-18 from the field and 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. He also went perfect from the free-throw line (6-for-6).
  • Quran Briggs added 14 points and 5 assists, while Larry Morse recorded a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
  • The team's defensive effort was solid, especially on the glass where they outrebounded Buffalo State 36-32.

• Buffalo State:

  • Nate Severson was the standout performer for Buffalo State, scoring 19 points and hitting 6-of-7 from three-point range.
  • Bryce Williams contributed 15 points, with most of his damage coming from the free-throw line (9-of-11).
  • Maley McCurty came off the bench to score 10 points and provide a spark for the Bengals, but it wasn't enough to secure the win.

Game Flow:

The first half was tightly contested, with both teams exchanging leads multiple times. Buffalo State finished the half down by five (35-30), despite hitting 5 of 14 three-pointers and getting solid play from Severson and Williams.

Hilbert came out strong in the second half, with Ellis taking control offensively, scoring key buckets to extend the Hawks' lead. However, Buffalo State did not back down, closing the gap late with some clutch shooting from Severson.

Great collapsing defense by the Hawks in the final seconds gave Nathan Moore steal in the lane.  He fed the ball upcourt to a streaking Quran Briggs who banked in a short jumper for the two-point lead with no time left on the clock.

Notable Stats:

• Hilbert shot 44.8% from the field (26-of-58), including 5-of-14 from three (35.7%). The Hawks also made 12 second-chance points and 12 fast-break points, capitalizing on turnovers and second opportunities.
• Buffalo State shot 41.8% from the field (23-of-55), including 9-of-21 from three (42.9%). They also had 10 second-chance points and 14 points off turnovers.

Key Moments:

• The game saw five tie scores and six lead changes, with the final change coming with just over a minute left when Ellis hit a clutch jumper to give Hilbert a two-point lead.
• Buffalo State had a chance to take the lead in the closing seconds but couldn't convert a critical possession, and Hilbert made the most of their free-throw opportunities down the stretch to seal the win.

Up Next:

• Hilbert returns to the friendly confides of the Hafner Recreation Center for the chance to earn their third Hawks Against Hunger title game in ten tries.