BUFFALO, N.Y. – After taking a six point lead to half time, the Hilbert College men's basketball team stretched their hold deep into the second half, but a late-game cold-shooting stretch by the Hawks cost them the game.

Kirkland Ottey led a balanced Hilbert attack, though he was the only one to post 21 points in Hilbert's 83-79 defeat at Medaille tonight. 

The 5-10 senior guard shot 50% from the floor (6-for-12) and sank a pair of deep shots while hitting all seven free throws he attempted.  Ottey also earned three of Hilbert's five steals and gave the Hawks a big lift in the first half defensively when the visitors were making their run before half time.

Joseph Braniecki scored 14 points, blocked a pair of Maverick jumpers and was credited with a team-high eight rebounds, six on the offensive end.

Jalen Smith added 11 points and three assists while Derrek Carman finished with 10 points and six rebounds.

David Arlaud gave good minutes tonight with nine points and Hunter Martineau finished with nine assists, seven points and was the team's second-leading rebounder with seven boards.

Hilbert took and early 7-4 lead with less than four minutes gone off the clock.  The Mavericks went on a 6-0 run and held their largest lead (10-7) at 14:38 before the Hawks stormed back.

Jalen Smith (7 points) and Kirkland Ottey (4 points) played on both sides of the mid-line, scoring and then creating turnovers, steals that converted back into Hilbert points. 

At 10:49, Hilbert had their seven-point cushion back and withstood the Maverick rally late.

With the score knotted at 31-31, Ottey led with 8 of Hilbert's 11 final points before the horn at half time.

Six minutes into the second half, the Hawks were on cruise control after stretching the score to 58-48.  Two minutes later, Hilbert held a 12 point lead fueled by Braniecki's nine-point run by 12:19.

Then around the eight minute mark, Medaille began to chip away at the Hawks' lead.  Through that time it stayed at least a two-possession game until Hilbert went cold from the floor and Medaille's efforts on the offensive glass began to pay off.

Down the stretch, Medaille worked for five offensive rebounds which converted into frustration for Hilbert and points for the hosts.

By the final horn, Hilbert held the edge on the glass (38-37) and 17-13 on the offensive end.  But those extra late-game possessions allowed the Mavericks to run the clock out with a lead and work for more points either in the paint or from the foul line.

After the defeat, Hilbert dropped back to 500 on the season at 4-4 and moved to 1-2 in AMCC action.  The Hawks also suffered a Buffalo Cup defeat in the three-way challenge between Hilbert, Medaille and D'Youville.

This Saturday, December 10, the Hilbert Hawks will host the La Roche Redhawks in a 4pm AMCC contest.