CESSON, Pa. – The Hilbert College men's basketball team eked out a 80-77 road win over Mt. Aloysius College this afternoon in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference action and moved to 8-7 overall.

Jalen Smith, returning to full strength, led the Hawks with 25 points and five assists, while Hunter Martineau posted his second double figure assist game credited with 11 on the day.

The Hawks ultimately won the game at the foul line as Hilbert hit 10-of-12 attempts while the Mounties struggled from 15 feet out (5-of-12).

Hilbert finished the game hitting 46.9 percent of their field goal attempts and made 10-of-24 three-point shots (41.7%).   Mt. Aloysius sank three more buckets, but four fewer 3-point shots and 41.7% from the foul line.

The hosts picked up 20 points off Hilbert turnovers and outscored the Hawks 38-20 in the paint.   

There were 12 lead changes and eight different times during the 40-minute game the scored was knotted.

After eight lead changes early in the opening session, Nicholas Parucki's jumper at 10:44 gave Hilbert a 20-18 advantage.   Hunter Martineau then had a hand in Hilbert final nine buckets the rest of the half.

The freshman point guard scored back-to-back jumpers and then assisted on five of Hilbert's final seven baskets helping the Royal and White ride a 45-35 margin to the break.  Smith (13), Parucki (11) and Derrek Carman (10) reached double digit points and Martineau notched nine assists staying on the court for at least 3/4 of the first 20 minutes.

Hilbert opened the second stanza strong and extended their 10-point half time lead to 56-42, thanks to a pair of made free throws by Kirkland Ottey.

Eight minutes later, at 8:22 Mt Aloysius completed their come-back and knotted the game at 58-58. 

Then a shooting clinic was put on by both teams and elevated the level of excitement for the fans.

Masia Phillips struck from downtown to lift the Hawks by three points. 

The Mounties converted their own and matched the score again at 61-61.

Phillips responded with his second consecutive just ahead of the hosts again, forcing another tie at 64-64.

Jalen Smith followed the 3-point barrage and Phillips scored in the paint for back to back Hilbert scores sandwiched around a Mountie turnover for a 69-64 Hawks advantage at 6:02.

Mt. Aloysius regained the lead at 3:57 and held on until 2:54 when Smith struck from deep again for a 74-73 Hilbert lead. 

After about 70 seconds of action, the Mounties pushed two more points on the board in what turned out to be their final lead 75-74.

Derrek Carman (2) and Jalen Smith (4) went 6-for-6 from the charity stripe to secure the three point victory.

Nicholas Parucki added 19 points as Carman (12) and Phillips (11) reached double digits offensively.  Carman cleared the boards with a team-high nine rebounds.

Hilbert will start the second-half of their AMCC schedule when they travel to Pitt-Bradford January 18.  The Hawks and Panthers share a 5^th place tie currently in the league standings with a 5-4 AMCC record.