STEUBENVILLE, Ohio – The Hilbert College men's basketball team improved to 14-5 overall after picking up a 77-60 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference victory over Franciscan University today.   With the road win, the Hawks improved to 9-4 in league play and sit in 4th place in league standings.

Jerame Owens led the royal and white today scoring 22 points, hitting seven of his ten shots from the floor and going 8-for-10 at the charity stripe.  Sharing time in the paint and producing big numbers again was junior Ryan Bradt who chipped in 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds. 

Senior Trevor Stark added 17 points and three assists and Sean Weisansal led the Hawks with five assists and grabbed the same amount of rebounds.

Hilbert controlled the glass both segments of the game out-rebounding the hosts by 12 caroms.  For the game, Franciscan was credited with only 10 defensive rebounds mainly in part to Hilbert's blistering field goal percentage the second half. 

For the game, the Hawks shot 52.2% from the floor and an incredible 66.7% in the second half.  They provided only 22 free rebounds off missed shots and Hilbert grabbed nine-offensive boards themselves.

Hilbert took advantage of the charity stripe and sank 24 of their 29 free throw attempts while Franciscan only set-up for 11 free throws and sank just over 50% of those shots.

The only thing that seemed to slow Hilbert down in the second half was Hilbert itself.  The Hawks were credited with 13 turnovers the final 20 minutes of the game.

Franciscan scored 23 points off turnovers and 20 points in the paint.  Hilbert finished with only 19 points off turnover and 14 points in the paint. 

After scoring the game's first points, Franciscan quickly found themselves trailing the visitors by nine points after Kirkland Ottey's four straight points.  Jerame Owens connections at the foul line gave Hilbert their first double-digit lead and then their largest lead of the 1st half 29-17 at 3:49.

Hilbert extended their control of the game early in the second period and stretched their lead to 20 points with a Bradt tip-in at 5:53.  The Barons then went on a 12-0 run pulling within single digits with 3:32 left. 

Owens responded with a jumper and Weisansal dialed up from long distance.  The Hawks closed the game going 9-for-9 (Stark 7-of-7) at the foul line to ensure the road win.

Hilbert returns to the friendly confines of the Hafner Center for two games this coming week.  They host Pitt-Bradford February 4 and then La Roche College February 7.