ALFRED, NY—AU (3-1, E8 0-0) was dished their first loss of the season, 88-87, in OT against Hilbert College in the Terry S. Galanis Family Arena Saturday afternoon.
AU fell to the Hilbert Hawks after struggling at the free throw line making 14 of 25 (56.0%) giving AU its first loss of the season. Dalton Walsh (Stockton, NY/Casadega Valley) led the Saxons with a double-double, scoring 29 points, grabbing 15 rebounds and adding three blocks. Sophomore Tyler Seelman (Lorton, VA/Hayfield Secondary) was also a force to be reckoned with, netting 26 points and three assists.
Though the two teams shot near 50% from the field, regulation was not enough to decide a winner. The entire game was a battle with 21 lead changes and 12 ties. The Saxons led the game for the majority of the second half, but the Hawks were able to get ahead with two minutes to go when Malique McCoy (West Jordon, UT/West Jordan) broke into the paint for a layup to make the 77-76. The Hawks then added another layup soon after, making the Saxon deficit 79-76. However, Seelman tied the game with a three-pointed nearly five feet behind the arc to knot the game up at 79 all.
In the next possession Hilbert looked to take the lead when Jarame Owens (Spencerport, NY/Spencerport) attempted a jumper just outside the paint, but Walsh was there to deny the try and grabbed the rebound. The Saxons then went for a last second play to take the lead, but turned the ball over. The Hawks would get the last chance with four seconds left, but also turned the ball over on a travel. At the end of regulation the game was still tied, 79-79.
Overtime began with solid defense, where neither team was able to score until 3:10 left in the period. Over the course of the next three minutes there were five lead changes, with Walsh leading the Saxons with eight points. Finally, Hilbert's Owens hit a layup with 0:22 on the clock the clinch the victory of Hilbert College.
Senior Tim Pacheco (Mt. Pocono, PA/Pocono Mountain East) added 13 points, seven rebounds, and four assists to the Saxons tally while Eric Adams (Lebanon, NJ/Hunterdon Central) helped with nine points and four assists. The Saxons shot 31 of 66 (47.0%) from the field while hitting 11-22 (50.0%) from three point range.
The Saxons look to return to their winning ways on Tuesday, Dec. 2nd at 8PM when they take on SUNY Fredonia in Alfred, NY at the Terry S. Galanis Family Arena.