Men’s Basketball falls to Hilbert in AMCC overtime thriller

HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Carlow University men's basketball could not eke out a win in overtime against Hilbert College in a 78-75 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference loss Saturday afternoon.

Although the Celtics (3-15, 2-8 AMCC) shot better from the floor on the night, the Hawks (13-7, 6-5 AMCC) capitalized at the foul line.

Carlow shot 50 percent (29 for 58) from the field, while Hilbert shot 84 percent (21 for 25) from the line on the night.

Riley Comforti (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland HS) led Carlow with a double-double effort of 16 points and 13 rebounds, while picking up a game-high five steals and dishing out four assists. Clayton Cook (Brookville, Pa./Brookville Area HS) contributed a career-high 15 points, and Adnan Sbai (Camp Hill, Pa./East Pennsboro Area HS/Seton Hill University) added 15 points off the bench with three blocks and two assists. Devin Lewis (Warrenton, Va./Fauquier HS/Pitt Bradford) led the team with five assists.

Hilbert prevented the Celtics from scoring at all from the floor during overtime, and a foul on a three-point attempt put the Hawks at the line, where they sank all three to lead 76-72 with 1:56 left in overtime. Byron Gaskins (Woodbridge, Va./Christ Chapel Academy) landed two foul shots to cut Hilbert's advantage to two before another jump shot put the Hawks ahead by four once again. Carlow hit a free throw with under a minute to play, but neither team would score during the final minute as Hilbert held on for the win.

The Hawks jumped out to an early 10-2 advantage, maintaining lead over the Celtics throughout the beginning of the first half. A trey from Sbai tied the score at 21-all midway through the half, and Carlow matched the Hawks bucket for bucket over the next two minutes. Tied at 25-25 with 8:03 remaining, Hilbert went on a 17-4 run that spanned until just under a minute left in the half.

A free throw and a tip-in by Jordan Cannon (Cleveland, Ohio/Lutheran East/West Virginia Wesleyan) saw the Celtics trailing by 10, and two last-second foul shots afforded the Hawks a 12-point lead at the half.

Carlow started the second half with a 9-0 run, culminating with a three-pointer from Jimmy Gianetta that cut Hilbert's lead to four. Hilbert quickly extended its lead to 10, and every time Carlow got close, the Hawks created distance.

A layup from Cook and three free throws in a row gave Carlow its first lead of the second half with just 1:35 left in regulation. Hilbert hit the foul line to return the favor before Cook landed a trey to put the Celtics up 71-69 with under a minute remaining.

A Hilbert tip-in tied the game at 71-all, and neither team would score in the next 24 seconds to send it into overtime.

The Celtics outscored Hilbert 40-24 in the paint and 27-18 off the bench on the day. The Hawks outrebounded Carlow 45-37 and scored 25 points off 15 Celtics turnovers.

Larry Morse led the Hawks with a game-high 17 points and 12 rebounds. Shaheem Ellis and Nathan Moore tallied 16 and 14 points, respectively. Ellis dished out a game-high six assists.

The Celtics host Pitt Greensburg for a 7 p.m. AMCC game Feb. 5.