HAMBURG, N.Y. – The Medaille College men's basketball team faced their cross-town rivals, the Hilbert Hawks, in a make-up AMCC game tonight. The Mavericks won a tight game, 87-78.
Bryce Smith (College Station, TX, A&M; Consolidated) started out hot with a three pointer right from the jump. The Hawks came right back with their own three just over one minute later. Smith answered right back sinking his second three of the night.
Daunte Wilcott (Erie, PA, Mercyhurst Prep) added two more points for the Mavs off of a fast-break from a
Trevor Young (Buffalo, NY, Frederick Law Olmsted) rebound. The Hawks were creeping up behind them with a made jumper to put them within three.
Jaqwan Washington (Bryan, TX, Bryan) grabbed a steal and was fouled while attempting a shot. He made both of his free-throws, and started a scoring rally for the Mavs.
Rodney Graves (Woodbridge, VA, Colgan) added three points and a free-throw, while
Tyler Sealy (London, England, DME Academy) joined the three-party and sunk his own all before the Hawks made another basket. The Mavs pulled ahead quickly. At 6:21 the Mavs had their largest lead of the half with two made free-throws from Smith. This put them ahead by 17 points. After a quiet stretch, Washington made a pull-up jumper to get things rolling again at 4:28, while
Kendall McGill (Largo, MD, Largo) made a quick layup right after. At 3:30, the Hawks made a big three to put them back within ten points, but the Mavs scored an immediate layup once they got the ball back. The Mavs were making their layups. Hilbert drained another three to get them under 10 points behind. Graves stole the ball from the Hawks after a missed shot, and makes a free throw. The Hawks make a jumper with two seconds left, and the Mavs lead 45-37 at the half.
The Mavs get the ball to start the second half, but could not find the basket to get some quick points. The Hawks make a three soon after grabbing the rebound and are now within five points.
Dante Moultrie (Buffalo, NY, North Tonawanda) drove in for a layup to answer. At 17:49, the Hawks missed a three, but grabbed their own rebound and scored from there. They were starting their comeback. The Hawks were being aggressive offensively, forcing fouls. In three opportunities within a few minutes, they made four free-throws. They were now only down two points. After a Mavs turnover at 15:30 that was meant to save the play, the Hawks marched down and made a fast-break layup to tie the game. After a missed three, the Mavs grabbed their own rebound, and McGill charged in for a layup and made it. He was fouled but did not make the and-one, and
Travis Sanders (Cleveland, OH, Euclid) stole it and went in for another layup, makes it, and gets his own and-one. The Mavs are back in the lead 54-49. Their confidence was coming back. At 13:07, Hilbert hits a three and they are staying in it, only behind by six. At 12:14, McGill takes his turn behind the arc and makes a big one for the Mavs. Washington spins around and hits a jumper after to put the Mavs ahead 63-55. With ten minutes left, the Mavs stay aggressive under the basket and grab two offensive rebounds. They regroup, and
Jorge Latapia (Zaragoza, Spain, Colegio Aleman Zaragoza) makes a layup. The lead keeps climbing. At 7:30, the Hawks make another three to really cut down the Mavs' lead. Just under seven minutes Wilcott stole the ball and drove in for a quick layup but was fouled. He made both free-throws making it 71-65. The game became all about the offensive rebounds. Both teams were making second-chance shots. The Hawks were doing everything they could on their rebounds. With two and half minutes left, both teams traded turnovers. It finally ended with a layup from
Jorarei Bile (Oxon Hill, MD, Oxon Hill). The last minutes were about to be a battle. After a foul off of a contested rebound, the Hawks made two free-throws at just over two minutes remaining. The game was within six points. The Mavs brought it down the court and Graves made a floating jump shot. The Mavs just needed to take some time off the clock. After fouls from both sides, the game finally came to an end with the Mavs winning 87-78.
Game leaders for the Mavericks were Washington with 18 points going 6-13 with five rebounds, two assists and two steals, McGill with 17 points going 7-10 with two threes, seven rebounds, and one steal, and Smith with 13 points going 3-6, all three were three-pointers, along with two rebounds.
The Mavericks will continue conference play on Wednesday, February 9. They will travel to Pitt-Bradford for a start time of 7:30 p.m.
