STEUBENVILLE, OH – Senior Jerame Owens collected 20 points and 15 rebounds to push Hilbert to a 78-64 AMCC victory at Franciscan University this afternoon in men's  basketball.  Hilbert closed the first half with a big run and carried their momentum into the final period to improve to 8-1 overall and remain perfect in league play at 3-0. 

Franciscan fell to 1-6 overall and suffered their second loss in three league contests.

Owens posted his third double-double and added three assist and a pair of steals.  His one block pushed his career total to 128 and gives him a share of the program's all-time leader title.  The 6-6 forward needs just one more deflection to claim another honor.

Sophomore Jalen Smith added 15 points, three assists and three steals while Malique McCoy struck for 12 points (5-for-8) off the bench.

Franciscan's Keoni Sablan led all scorers with 25 points shooting 50% from the floor.

Both teams traded baskets the first eight minutes of the game until Franciscan went on a 6-0 run to build their largest lead (20-12) with 10:26 left in the first half. 

Hilbert chipped away and broke back into the game fueled by Xavier Major's quick five points which incorporated a traditional three-point play.

McCoy's three-pointer gave the Hilbert another lead which they did not surrender the rest of the way. Smith and Kyle Kline knocked down a pair of threes and Owens found the bottom of the net inside the lane to help Hilbert build a 44-36 score, doubling the Barons' efforts (32-16) before the break.  

Hilbert out-rebounded the hosts (22-11) and were whistled for a season-low three first-half fouls.

McCoy stretched Hilbert's lead to ten points on the first possession of the second half but the Barons did not go away.  Three trips lead to empty points for Hilbert while Franciscan converted each time cutting the score to four points (46-42) at 17:40. 

McCoy and Kirkland Ottey dialed-up from beyond the arc and Owens and Ryan Bradt were successful at the charity stripe to regain another 10-point lead just nine minutes later. The Hawks maintained the double-figure lead to the final horn and picked up another AMCC win.

Hilbert has only one day to prepare for their final AMCC game of the fall semester.  D'Youville College makes their first appearance in Hamburg Monday, December 14 for a 6pm tip.  The Spartans (3-6, 1-2) captured their first league victory today at La Roche (83-77).