HAMBURG, N.Y.  –  Shaheem Ellis, for the second time in two Wednesday’s, lifted Hilbert College to an important Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference victory which kept the Hawks in the top three in the league standings.

Tonight, the sophomore guard drilled a 3-point shot with 0.3 seconds left in overtime for the 86-84 win against Penn State Behrend.

Hilbert (6-3) stays in the hunt behind Penn State Altoona and La Roche who sit at 8-1 each.

HIGHLIGHTS

Hilbert did a great job picking apart Penn State Behrend’s match-up zone defense and found openings at the foul line or down on the blocks or at the wings.  The Hawks finished the game shooting 48.6% from the floor, and 42.9% from downtown, hitting the most 3’s this season (9).

Quran Briggs collected 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while a trio of second-year players all notched 13 points.  Shaheem Ellis made 3-of-7 3-pointers and went 2-for-2 at the foul line along with one steal at midcourt which led to a transition fastbreak layup.  Edward Perez worked hard for six offensive rebounds (8 total) and added two blocked shots, and Jahmel Demery  pulled down six rebounds and finished with three assists.

Eric Jackson threaded the needle seven times while hitting 3-of-4 from the floor (8 points).  Zach Miller tossed in three shots from downtown – Nevada Eldridge hit all three of his shots from the floor in addition to going 2-for-2 at the foul line – and Austin Boies gave quality minutes hitting two jumers in the winning effort.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The entire 45 minutes of action was exciting watching both teams execute on offense and perform on the defensive end of the court.    There were six lead changes by each team and each team forced a tie score six times in the first half. 
• The Hawks built a 42-39 lead heading into the locker room thanks to a Zach Miller make from beyond the arc. Hilbert outworked the Lions 21-14 on the glass, picking them for 10 offensive rebounds in the first half and limited the visitors looks from the 3-point line.
• Hilbert opened the second half on fire.  Edward Perez was in a potential 3-point play, but missed the freebie, then Miller struck again deep which preceded the fastbreak layup made by Quran Briggs (both those scores were assisted by Eric Jackson).  Hilbert held their largest lead 49-43 just two and a half minutes into the second period.
• The Lions had three consecutive positive possessions, and held the Hawk scoreless as Behrend jumped on top 50-49. 
• 12-lead changes later, Perez converted his And 1 and Ellis hit a jumper in the paint to give Hilbert a 67-63 lead again. 
• Behrend knotted the game at 71 with 1:45 left in regulation but Jackson set up Briggs for a 3-point make lifting the Hawks 74-71 with 1:19 on the clock.
• Behrend sliced the difference to one before Perez scored in the paint keeping the Hawks up by three points with 0:22.
• The Lions secured an offensive rebound put-back score which then led to a make at the foul line to tie the score at 76-all.
• After a Hilbert miss, the Lions walked to the other end of the floor for two free throws with 0.6 seconds remaining.  After their shooter missed the first, Hilbert called a timeout to freeze the shooter and it worked.
• Behrend won the tip off the jump ball at the start of over time.
• Eldridge hit both free throws before the Lions scored a driving lay up.
• Briggs connected from outside the lane and then the Hawks forced a deep 3-point miss by Behrend as their 30-second shot was expiring. 
• Boies went 1-for-2 at the foul line and gave Hilbert another 3-point lead but the visitors scored again off a driving layup to set the 81-80 in favor of Hilbert.
• Briggs made a layup in the paint and then Behrend’s top scorer made both at the foul line setting another 83-82 tight score.
• The Hawks were whistled for a 5-second inbound violation with 26.1 seconds left which gave Behrend the ball and they took an 84-83 lead with 9 seconds. 
• Hilbert delivered the ball the Ellis on the right wing near his bench and he drilled the 3-pointer for the win.

GAME NOTES

• At the conclusion of the 45-minute game, Hilbert won the boards (45-31), shot better from the 3-point line (42.9%-33.3%) and made more shots from downtown than Behrend (9/7).
• By the final horn, there were 22 lead changes made by each team and each team forced 11 tie score situations.  

UP NEXT

The Hawks (9-10, 6-3 AMCC) return to the Hafner Recreation Center this weekend for another AMCC series with the women’s team.  Hilbert will host Pitt-Greensburg in a 1pm / 3pm double header against the Bobcats.

Editor’s Note: This story is shared with The Scribe by the Hilbert Athletics Department.