BRADFORD, PA – In an exciting end to the first half, the Hilbert College men's basketball team stormed back to take a four-point lead into the locker room and then held strong the second half en route to a 73-69 important Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference road win at Pitt-Bradford tonight. 

Hilbert retained their first place hold in the AMCC and, with only three games remaining, are still fighting for their second consecutive regular season AMCC championship title.  Hilbert improved to the program's best-ever record of 19-3 (13-2 AMCC) while they pushed Bradford to 13-9 overall and 9-6 AMCC which keeps them in third place.

The Hawks got a balanced-scoring effort from Jerame Owens, Trevor Start who each netted 14 points. Owens picked up his 13th double double pairing his 14 points with 11 rebounds.  Nick Nadeau and Owens each shared game-high honors with three steals while Nadeau added 10 points off 50% field goal shooting.  Trevor Stark reached for 14 points, another strong shooting night going five for 10 from the field and sinking two long balls. 

CJ Hodge picked up four assists which gives him a career total of 364, just two shy of taking over sole possession of second place in Hilbert's career records.  Hodge also give the Hawks five points, two steals and five rebounds. 

Jalen Smith made two of his three attempts from beyond the arc at crucial times tonight for his eight points and his five assists earned him game-high honors.

Bradford's Keith Burgess earned game-high scoring honors with 23 points.  His Panther partner, Eric Matheson gave the hosts 14 points and nine rebounds just two short of Lucas Pichette's 11 caroms.

Nadeau started the game with a basket early.  That was it for Hilbert for a while as the Panthers went on a 14-0 run before the Hawks knew what hit them. 

Owens broke the ice at 14:42 helping Hilbert to get back on track.  Kumro scored a lay-up to start the 12-0 run which had contributions by sharp-shooting three-point threats Smith, Nadeau and Sean Weisansal. 

Both teams went cold for almost five minutes until the Panthers knocked down a score at 7:55.  The home team stretched their lead back to six points with 1:33 left in the first session.  Nadeau cut the deficit to four points, Owens went one for two from the charity stripe before Hodge inched the Hawks closer with a bunny in the paint. 

The Panthers were denied by Ryan Bradt who was credited with the block that turned into Hilbert's first lead of the game after Owens scored in the paint.  Just seconds later, Hodge earned another Hilbert steal which he passed to Smith who sank a three at the buzzer.  Hilbert went to the locker room with a four-point lead and confidence they needed to control the second half.

The final half was pretty consistent.  Hilbert built their largest lead of 10 points just about five minutes in.  Bradford was always knocking at the door, but the Hawks never allowed them to force a tie or take a lead.  Twice the Panthers got it to one point, but the Hilbert always responded and took the win.

Hilbert's bench outscored Bradford's by 11 points and converted 22 points off Panther turnovers.  But the Hawks struggled at the foul line sinking only 12 of 25 (48%) even though they finished the game shooting 42.6% from the field and 47.4% beyond the arc.

Hilbert returns to action this weekend when they host Pitt-Greensburg at 1pm February 15.  Prior to the tip off, the Hawks will celebrate CJ Hodge's last regular season home game in Hamburg. 

The 2013-14 season ends with two road games against two teams Hilbert has to beat in order to stay in first place and host the AMCC championship weekend at the end of February.