HAMBURG, N.Y. – The 8th Annual Hilbert College Hawks Against Hunger Tip-Off Tournament will feature John Carroll University (1-0) and SUNY Poly (1-0) in the November 18th Championship game after both those out of town teams defeated the local Western New York talent.
In the nightcap, SUNY Poly hit the ground running and built a 55-46 lead by intermission over the Hawks and then withstood a Hilbert come-back in the middle of the second half, to take a 99-83 season-opening win.
John Carroll shot the lights out in the opening game taking a 60-40 lead to intermission against Fredonia. The Blue Streak keep the heat on in the second period almost doubling up the Blue Devils on the score board to take a 110-75 win at the start of their season.
Each of the four teams this weekend had one shooter that drove each opposing coach nuts on the sidelines. SUNY Poly's Josh Gregory took home high-scoring honors for the night; he hit his first eight shots of the game, half of them from behind the 3-point line and finished with 30 points. Hilbert's Jalen Smith knocked down 29 points, going 8-of-12 from deep but only 1-of-2 at the charity stripe. Ian Helps from Fredonia went 12-of-13 at the foul line to stretch his points to 28 and John Carroll's Jackson Sartain struck for 27 points most of them from kick-outs as he dug-in from deep (7-11).
SUNY Poly found their shooting touch right from the get-go in the 8pm game and posted a sizzling 65.7% effort from the floor (23-35, knocking down 5-of-8 from deep). They stretched the Hawks defense and then took advantage of the open driving lanes to the hoop. The Wildcats posted 10 block shots, five of them off the hands of Josh Gregory.
Kevin Williams posted 20 points (10-11 from the floor), Tyler Taverne earned the night's only double-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds while Randell Freeman added 14 points and led with six assists.
Nicholas Parucki posted 19 points, adding three blocks on defense and
Hunter Martineau dished for six assists and scored 13 points.
In the opening game, John Carroll took almost 45% of their shots from the floor behind the 3-point arc. They converted 14 of their 35 3's hitting 40% as a team. The Blue Streaks posted 24 assists which tied the tournament's Single Game team record set by Hilbert back in 2011.
Fredonia held a slight edge on the glass (40-37) and scored 26 points at the foul line, but John Carroll knocked down 47% of their shots from the floor and pressed on defense which caused 26 Blue Devils turnovers.
Hilbert will face Fredonia in the Consolation 1pm game and John Carroll (A) will battle SUNY Poly (H) in the 3pm Championship.
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