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Gioia’s Jumper Sinks Lake Erie

Release Date:
December 19, 2003
Contact:
The Office of Sports Information
(716) 649-7900 ext. 333

HAMBURG, N.Y. – Sam Gioia (West Seneca West/West Seneca, NY) hit a 15-foot off-balanced jumper with three seconds remaining to lift Hilbert College to a 61-59 win over visiting Lake Erie College Thursday night in NCAA Division III men’s basketball action. The Hawks record improves to 3-6 after their second straight win.

Four Hilbert players scored in double figures, led by Paul Marvin (Wayne Central/Ontario, NY) with 17 points, eight rebounds, and two blocked shots. Sean Kenney (Tonawanda/Tonawanda, NY) scored 13 points off the bench, and Mike Zmuda (Gowanda Central/Gowanda, NY) added 10 points and seven rebounds.

Gioia, the game’s final hero, contributed 10 points, six assists, and five steals after a sub par shooting performance.

"I know Sam didn’t have the shooting performance he was hoping to have, but he made the one that counted the most,” said Hilbert head coach Rob deGrandpre. “I’m very pleased with our effort as a group. We’re playing well together now.”

Kevin Albany and Robert Williams each scored 10 points to lead the Storm, who fall to 3-6 on the season.

The Hawks will return from their holiday break to face local rival D’Youville College at 6 p.m. Jan. 2 in the first round of the Buffalo State Holiday Inn Tournament at Buffalo State College.


Hilbert College, located in suburban Hamburg, N.Y., south of Buffalo, is a private four-year college founded in 1957 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition. With nearly 1,100 students, Hilbert is a dynamic Western New York college that offers career-focused majors, including one of the top criminal justice programs in the region, and more than 50 minors and concentrations. The college’s engaging, student-centered campus community offers numerous leadership, internship and service learning opportunities from which students launch successful careers while making positive changes in their communities. Hilbert has expanded its academic offerings with the college’s first graduate programs, one a master’s in criminal justice administration and the other a master’s in public administration, and new Accelerated Degree Programs geared to adult learners.