ALTOONA, PA - Penn State Altoona scored a twisting, off-balance shot from under their rim with less than one second left in regulation to pull out an 82-81 win at home against the Hilbert College men's basketball team this afternoon.

The Lions (5-10) improved to 4-5 in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference action while the Hawks (5-10) fell to 1-7.

Masia Phillips dropped a game-high 23 points (five assists) to lead Hilbert in a game that saw a total of 15 lead changes and 13 times where the game was tied.

Hunter Martineau earned game-high honors with 11 assists while adding 15 points and two steals.  Joseph Braniecki chipped in 14 points, Nicholas Parucki knocked in 10 points and Dre' Turnipseed led all players with three steals.

The Hawks built their largest lead early in the first half while the Lions rallied late in the game for the win.

Hilbert looked good early, building an eight-point cushion (13-5) less than five minutes in the game. 

But three consecutive 3-point hits gave Altoona a lead after seven and a half minutes of action. 

Martineau responded with a deep shot lifting Hilbert back on top.  Anthony Buisch created a loose ball that Phillips took to the rim for two more (21-17) at 11:31.

After Altoona hit again from deep, Braniecki's jumper lifted HIlbert back on top again (25-24) before Phillips connected from downtown again.  

Hilbert stretched it back to a six point game with ten minutes to go, but the Lions hung around and five times evened the score.  Altoona was credited with a pair of old fashioned three-point plays along the way and took a 41-40 advantage to the locker room.

Phillips had a great first half offensively; he didn't miss from the field, hitting all three shots from the floor, with a pair from deep, and both free throws.  His 10 points led seven different players on the scoreboard. 

Twice, after intermission,  the Lions built a six point advantage in the first ten minutes  but each time Hilbert responded.  Turnipseed was credited with a three point play, Braniecki a jumper and Martineau made two free throws creating a one point game at 15:21. 

Then Braniecki hit twice from inside ten feet preceding Martineau's 3-point shot that lifted Hilbert 59-58 at 12:31.  

The Hawks kept rolling as Phillips knocked down another deep shot at 6:31 (70-67) and two minutes later Parucki's score in the paint gave Hilbert a four point advantage. 

In the final four minutes of action, the score was tied four times (forced by each team twice) and there were six lead changes (four gained by the Lions).

With 0:32 left, the Hawks came up with a great defensive stand forcing a shot clock violation.  At that point in the game, now trailing 80-78, Braniecki came up with an offensive rebound and kicked it to Phillips.  The junior guard knotted the game off penetration to the rim and gave Hilbert an 81-80 lead of the ensuing made free throw with 0:11.4 to go.

After the Lions' time out, Braniecki blocked Altoona's first shot near the rim but Jalen Archie-Davis converted the twisting, off balance shot from under the cylinder for the 82-81 win.

The men's basketball team returns to action mid-week when they travel to North Buffalo for their Buffalo Cup contest against Medaille College January 16.  Fans can follow free live stats or purchase a $4 ticket to view the game online.

Be sure to stay up-to-date on all your Hilbert Hawk scores and awards by following @HilbertAthletic on Twitter and by liking the "Hilbert College Athletics" Facebook page.   Additionally fans of the Hawks who have an Apple device can receive push notification from the Hilbert College Hawks iOS SideArm mobile App which can be found in the Apple Store and in ITunes.