ERIE, Pa. - The Hilbert College men's basketball team had their chance to pull off the road win, but Penn State Behrend knocked down shots from the foul line to claim an 85-80 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference win tonight. 

Ryan Hogan earned game-high scoring honors (24 points) after he connected for 21 in the first half, hitting all five 3-pointers and 8-of-9 from the field.  His efforts helped the Hawks (5-13, 1-10 AMCC) exploded for a 50-39 halftime lead over Behrend as the 16-2, 9-2 AMCC Lions didn't know what hit them.

Alex Karamanos poured in a career-high 17 points and was one rebound shy of earning a double double tonight and Nicholas Parucki added 16 points (70% from the field). 

After three lead changes early in the game, the Hawks took over and never relinquished control the final 14 minutes in the first half.

Karamanos scored Hilbert's first five points, Parucki nailed the first 3-pointer before Hogan began his shooting exhibition.  He drilled 15 of Hilbert's 17 points en route to the Hawks 29-14 lead at 10:23.

Hogan wasn't done, as he drained two more back-to-back 3's lifting his Royal and White to a 17-point lead 37-20 just two and a half minutes later.

The Lions sliced the score to 13 points before the break by going inside the paint since their traditional long distance shooting was off kilter in the opening 20 minutes.

Hilbert strung together a 56.7% shooting effort, sank 87.5% of their 3-pointers (7-for-8) but hit only one of two free throws by the break while the Lions were still impressive from the floor (56.6%) but made only 5-of-13 shots from downtown.

Karamanos tossed in four more quick points at the start of the second half before the hosts found their range.  Behrend knocked down consecutive 3's and went back inside making it a three-point game (57-54) at 16:04.

An extra pass around the horn gave the Lions an open 3, which knotted the game 64-all at 12:49.   Behrend took the lead after a Hilbert turnover and from that point forward, the Hawks played catch-up.

Hogan connected again pulling Hilbert within one (70-69) as both teams went to a timeout at 9:44.

After two minutes of solid Hilbert defense which kept the Lions off balance  Joseph Braniecki knotted the game again at 70-70.  

Behrend stretched their lead back to five after scoring four consecutive free throws in one trip.  

Hunter Martineau's 3-point play made it a one-possession game at 4:50 and Parucki's deep shot which was followed by a short jumper put a dagger into Behrend's roll setting an 80-79 score.

After a Behrend turnover, Phillips made another trip to the line.  His first shot force an 80-80 score and a home-team timeout with 1:39 on the game clock.

Behrend ran a designed play for a 1-on-1 take for a layup and Hilbert then called a TO with 1:07.  The Hawks had a few looks at the hoop and Dre' Turnipseed hustled to a forced-jumpball tie-up giving Hilbert the ball back.  The Hawks had two looks, and then fouled. 

Now trailing 83-80 with less than 20 -seconds to go, Hilbert had two more good looks from beyond the arc which could have forced overtime.  Hogan's went in and out and Parucki's fell short of the center.  Behrend finished the game at the foul line and escaped with the hard fought victory.

Martineau (6 assists) and Phillips each added nine points, five rebounds and two steals. 

The Hawks return to action this weekend when they travel to Cresson, Pa for their second game against Mt. Aloysius January 26 (3pm).  The Mounties won the December 8 games, 75-70  in Hamburg

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