HAMBURG, N.Y. – Jerame Owens led the Hilbert College men's basketball team in a 67-66 defeat to visiting Penn State Altoona this afternoon.  With the loss, the Hawks (11-2, 6-1) drop their first AMCC contest to the Lions who battled all afternoon to earn the win.

Altoona (2-8, 1-6) picked up their first league victory, but nearly grabbed three wins earlier this season.  They fell in a one-point game to Behrend, and a pair of three-point losses to Medaille and Greensburg. 

Hilbert, coming off a six-game winning streak, struggled to find the bottom of the net as they finished the game with their lowest shooting percentage, fewest made baskets and free throws this season. 

Hilbert controlled the glass, holding a 42-36 advantage while doubling-up the Lions on the offensive boards (13-5).   The Hawks shot 39.4 percent from the floor (made 5 of 22 attempts beyond the arc ~ 22.7%) and went to the foul line only 14 times, hitting just nine freebies.

Sean Weisansal added 14 points and Kirkland Ottey chipped in 12.  Owens, Weisansal and Ottey were the only players to sink 50% of better of their shots from the  floor.

The Lions got double figure scoring from three players led by Anton Lucas who posted 14 points and led his team with nine rebounds and a pair of blocks.

Altoona got on the board first and built a 7-0 lead before Owens converted a David Arlaud pass into 2-points.  On several occasions Hilbert closed the gap, but never forced a tie or grabbed a lead in the first period.  Each time the Hawks cut it to a 2-point game, the Lions responded keeping Hilbert at an arm's length.

Hilbert outscored the Lions' 21-9 in bench points in the first half, but Altoona flipped Hilbert's turnovers in an 11-1 score.

After intermission, Altoona stretched their 38-31 lead to a 43-31 score before the Hawks found a bucket. 

Hilbert took their first lead in the game with 7:06 remaining.  It was a nine-minute, 18-8 run, capped Weisansal's lay-up for the 53-52 Hilbert lead.

Altoona knocked down a 3-pointer to grab back the lead and never relinquished it again.  Weisansal dialed up from long distance to set the final score to a one-point Hilbert defeat, 67-66.

Hilbert will regroup and be ready to play this coming Wednesday when they host Alfred State in their final non-conference match of the season.  The January 13th game will begin at 6pm.