Box Score
HAMBURG, NY – Moving to 9-2 overall, the Hilbert College men’s basketball team captured a 71-66 non-conference win over Elmira College December 15. In an exciting game with neither team gaining enough ground to put the match away, the Hawks fought through six lead changes and eight tied scores in their last game of the semester. Anthony Hodge ripped the nets for 24 points as did Trevor Stark who finished with 17 tallies. Chris Cassidy earned team-high scoring honors with 18 points and 8 rebounds to lead Elmira (0-8) in defeat.
Senior Dan McFarland chipped in 10 points, going four of foul from the foul line for Hilbert and Jerame Owens grabbed eight rebounds before he stepped off the floor due to fouls late in the game. Elmira’s Josh Keys scored all his points from long distance (4 of 5) and teammate Neil Randolph gave the Soaring Eagles 14 points.
Hilbert grabbed the first lead, but they played catch-up the rest of the half. The Soaring Eagles shot 58.3% from the floor (five of eight behind the arc) to maintain control of the game the first twenty minutes. Hilbert tied the game on three occasions, but they never jumped back on top before the break. Hilbert’s Hodge shot six of seven from the floor and was one of one at the charity stripe to lead all scorers with 14 points.
Stark opened the second period with a jump shot which was followed by an Owens layup to give Hilbert their second lead of the game (36-35) at 17:43. Points were flying on the score board in spurts for each team the rest of the game. When one team gained momentum, the other team came up with defensive stops while they found their offensive groove at the other end of the floor. Isaac Bushey’s {photo} seven points and one steal led one Hilbert run that started at 9:06; Hodge and Stark continued their late-game scoring, and Jordan Kumro came through and did what was expected of him late. He rebounded and got to the foul line making both shots which held on the Elmira come back.
Hilbert was impressive offensively. Though they finished the game shooing 44.2%, they took care of the ball. The Hawks were credited with only 3 (three) turnovers the entire 40-minutes. They held the rebound advantage (29-27), shot 21 of 26 from the charity stripe and finished with seven steals.
Elmira continued to shoot the ball well into the second half, finishing with nine three-point baskets and 52.3% field goals. The Soaring Eagles were charged with 13 turnovers and only 1 steal.
The Hawks now take a few weeks off to rest and recharge as they prepare for the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference slate of the schedule which begins the weekend of January 5. The men (3-1, AMCC) will travel to Cresson (PA) to face Mount Aloysius College (3-1) the 5th at 5pm before they square off against La Roche College (3-1) the next afternoon in Pittsburgh, PA.