Men’s Basketball snaps losing streak with AMCC win over Hilbert

PITTSBURGH --- Carlow University men's basketball snapped a 10-game losing streak with a 59-56 win over Hilbert (N.Y.) College Saturday.

Galen Waters shot 9 for 10 from the field, landing five of Carlow's seven three-pointers to score a season- and game-high 23 points. Riley Comforti added 10 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals, and Gavin McLain tallied five blocks.

Carlow (4-15, 2-10 AMCC) jumped out to a 13-6 advantage in the first half, maintaining its lead until 12 minutes into the half when a three-pointer handed a one-point lead to the Hawks (9-9, 5-6 AMCC).

Hilbert outscored the Celtics 7-3 over the next four minutes before a trey from Oscar Contreras cut Hilbert's lead to two. The teams traded jumpers before Jimmy Giannetta landed one to tie the score at 28. Back-to-back layups gave the Hawks the lead once again before Waters hit a trey to put Carlow within a point heading into intermission.

Both teams tied the game four times throughout the beginning of the second half before a layup gave Carlow a lead it would not relinquish the remainder of the game. Hilbert cut Carlow's lead to three with less than 30 seconds left in regulation, but the Celtics played tremendous defense to prevent the Hawks from landing a last-second shot.

Carlow shot 42.6 percent (23 for 54) from the field on the afternoon. The Hawks outrebounded the Celtics 40-35 and outscored Carlow 28-10 off the bench.

Edward Perez led the Hawks with a double-double 13 points and 11 rebounds. Two other Hilbert players tallied double figures in the effort.

The Celtics return to action with a 7 p.m. AMCC game at Pitt Greensburg Jan. 31.