Box Score
HAMBURG, NY – After spotting Bradford the first six points in the game, the Hilbert College men’s basketball team reverse their fortunes and ran away with a 70-55 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference victory February 3. The Hawks extended their winning streak back to three games, but also improved to a very impressive 17-5 overall and an 11-4 AMCC record, sitting in a tie for 3rd place in league standings. Bradford dropped to 10-11 and 5-9.
Seniors Anthony Hodge and Dan McFarland swiped 11 of the Hawks 15 steals and they combined for 32 of the host’s total points, going 3 of 7 from long distance. Bradford’s Keith Burgess finished with 16 points, hitting 6 of 7 free throws and freshman PJ Blanch made things interesting at the end of the game when he came up with a few big three point shots to finish with 13 points.
Bradford opened the game with a traditional 3-point play then followed with a three-point dagger, which gave them their biggest lead of the game at 18:41. By 13:10, after Trevor Stark sank a jumper, Hilbert took hold of the game and never looked back. Jerame Owens hit back to back layups to extend the Hawks, 16-10, then the game took a back and forth, you score – I’ll score type of action. Bradford hit their last bucket with just over four minutes to play while Hilbert scored seven points to close out the first period, 32-22.
McFarland led all scorers with 10 points and five rebounds and all five of his steals in the first half. Hilbert shot 50% from the floor while holding Bradford to 33%.
By 9:46 in the second period, Hilbert netted 17 points to Bradford’s six. Nick Nadeau’s jumper at 7:47 gave Hilbert their largest lead of the game (56-31) and the Hawks coasted from there.
Bradford’s shooting percentage improved the second half, but the Hawks still finished the game shooting 46.6% from the floor and made 11 of their 13 foul shots.
Hodge finished the game with 22 points, making all 5 free throw attempts and McFarland hit two of his three 3-point shots, adding 10 points. His five steals tonight now gives him 180 for his career. With three games remaining in the regular season, McFarland needs 9 more steals to become Hilbert’s All Time Steal Leader.
Freshman Jerame Owens joined the two double digit scoring seniors with 10 points.
Hilbert returns to action this weekend when they travel to Pitt-Greensburg on Saturday. The Hawks close out their season with two final home games against Behrend February 13 and then they celebrate their senior day against La Roche College February 16.
AMCC play-offs begin Tuesday, February 19 with #6 seed playing at #3 seed and #5 squaring off against the #4 seed. Both the first and second seeds have byes in the first round and they will wait until Friday, February 22 for the semi-final games which will be hosted by the #1 seeded institution.