HAMBURG, NY – After falling behind by 10 points by half time, the Hilbert College men's basketball team's second half comeback fell short as they dropped to Penn State Behrend 55-52.  With the win, Behrend improved to 7-1 in AMCC play and owns the top spot in league standings after the first half of the conference schedule.  Hilbert lost the game on the glass and from the foul line as their overall record fell to 12-3 and 7-2 in AMCC.

Hilbert's Trevor Stark led all scorers with 18 points.  Behrend's Shane Skelly netted 17 points, going 9 for 11 at the charity stripe.  The Lions got 15 solid points from Nick DeLisio who hit big shots down the stretch to keep Behrend on top.

Sophomore Sean Weisansal was a momentum changer for the Hawks, coming up with a few big blocks and key buckets as Hilbert stormed back to take the lead late in the game.  He finished with 11 points, most after half time.

Hilbert almost doubled the Lions' field goal percentage (42.6% - 26.8%), and sank two more long balls than the visitors.  But Behrend held an 18-7 advantage on the offensive glass and earned 11 more points at the foul line, sinking 23 of 27, while Hilbert went 12 for 23.

Neither team got on track early in the game.  By 11:34 the Hawks held a 7-6 lead after Stark found the bottom of the net twice, and Owens earned an  assist on Weisansal's only bucket in the first half.  The Lions hit a three and stole the ball at mid-court for a transition score to take the lead for the first time, 11-7 at 11:20. Behrend continue to pound the ball in the paint and get to the foul line making 9 of 10 free throws in the first half.  The Lions grabbed or tipped back 11 offensive rebounds which gave the visitors 10 more looks at the hoop en route to a 28-18 lead at break.

Hilbert took their first lead in the second half after back-to-back-to back three point goals, two in a row by Jordan Kumro and the third by Stark at 13:22 left.  Behrend got to the line their next possession and Skelly calming sank both shots.  Hilbert miss fired on their next trip, and fouled Skelly on his next shot, which he turned into a traditional three-point play.  To add salt to their wounds, the Hawks were whistled for a technical foul which DeLisio converted, stretching their lead back to five points.

Late in the game, just as the Hawks were battling back, they gave up at least three offensive rebounds to the Lions. Weisansal came up with a loose ball but missed the foul shot.  When the Hawks gained the ball back on their next possession, the sophomore guard went hard to the hole but a questionable offensive charge was called giving the ball back to the Lions.
 
Weisansal continued to be the go-to person and his three point play earned Hilbert their fourth tie of the game with 3:49 remaining, 47-47.

DeLisio hit two step-back jumpers and a freebie to build a 52-47 advantage again which the Lions wouldn't lose down the stretch.

Hilbert's Jerame Owens earned game-high rebounding honors with 10 and Behrend's Keth Wallace was credited with 5 steals.

Hilbert returns to action this Thursday when they host D'Youville College at 6pm