HAMBURG, N.Y. – The Hilbert College men's basketball team won the 6th annual Tip-Off Tournament championship game for only the second time.  The Hawks regrouped and played team ball down the stretch to beat Liberty League RPI Engineers 88-71 this afternoon.  Hilbert closed the day with four players in double figure scoring and blistered the nets at a consistent 53% shooting both periods.

Seniors Jerame Owens and Sean Weisansal matched their offensive efforts scoring 22 points each. Kirkland Ottey and Jalen Smith chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively, to keep the Hawks at a perfect 4-0 overall record.

RPI's Chase Almond hobbled through an ankle injury to lead the Engineers with 16 points and eight rebounds today.  Andreas Kontopidis, who led the red and white yesterday with 24 points off the bench, again played over half the game and give them 13 points, hitting a pair of 3's. RPI falls to 2-1 after two weekends of action.

Earlier in the day, Utica College (1-3) improved their shooting percentage and dominated inside the paint to take a 76-65 victory in the consolation game.  Utica rode a 41-31 lead to the locker room, but Chatham (0-3) fought hard to get back into the game.  The Cougars kept pace the second half but still didn't outscore the Pioneers (35-34). 

Utica had an inside / out combo working today between guard Robert Tutein looking for long balls (4 of 10 – 15 points) and big man Ivan Iton who made 9 of 11 shots in the paint, 13 rebounds – 21 points.

Chatham's aggressive guard play was led by Logan Hunter's 14 points.  He had support from Anthony Bomar (13 points, three steals) and Nasir Alexander (10 points).

Named to the 6th annual Tip-Off All-Tourney team were Anthony Bomar (Chatham), Robert Tutein (Utica), Andreas Kontopidis (RPI), Jerame Owens and Sean Weisansal (Hilbert).

Hilbert, trailing 40-36 at half, had a tough time finding their rhythm in the first 20 minutes of action.  The Hawks didn't run and push the tempo as they normally enjoy and the slower pace frustrated them.  Each team scored 16 buckets with four 3-pointers, but RPI's four point lead was earned at the foul line, where they sank 4 of 5 shots vs. Hilbert's 0-1.

RPI extended their lead to eight points (44-36 at 19:06) before Weisansal's long ball started an 11-2 Hilbert run.  Owens stole the ball at mid-court and went the distance for a break-away layup to give the Hawks their first lead of the second half at 16:08.  RPI hung close and force four more ties in the game, with their final (and only lead after that point) at 9:38.

Hilbert's fast break scores and up-temp runs pushed their lead up to 10 (74-64) with just under five minutes left in the game.  Hilbert closed the game with 100% accuracy at the charity stripe sinking all 10 shots over the final three minutes.

Hilbert out-rebounded the visitors (34-25) with Owens grabbing 10 defensive boards and Xavier Major jumping to four offensive.  The Hawks force 18 RPI turnovers and were credited with 11 steals, led by Owens' five.

The Hawks return to action this week with a double header road game with the women's team at Elmira College November 24.  The women's game will begin at 5pm and the men will follow at 7pm.