Box Score Cresson, PA - The Mount Aloysius men's basketball team lost an exciting back-and-forth affair with visiting Hilbert College by a final score of 74-71 as Hilbert's Trevor Stark hit a three-point shot with four seconds to play to win it for the Hawks.
Joe Dziabo tied up the ballgame at 69-69 with 1:20 to play in the game when he hit one of two free throw attempts. With 45 seconds left on the clock, Stark drove into the paint and converted a tough layup to give Hilbert a two-point edge. The Mounties responded as
Nolan Doyle drew a foul and converted both free throw attempts to tie the game once again at 71-71 with 20 seconds remaining. After Stark hit the eventual game-winning shot, the Mounties had one last chance with the ball but couldn't get a shot off as the buzzer sounded.
The two sides traded the lead early on in the first half before at 11-4 run capped by a jumper from Doyle gave the Mounties their largest lead of the game at 34-24 with 3:30 to go in the opening half. After taking a four-point lead into the break, the teams traded baskets throughout the opening portion of the second half. Hilbert eventually took a 54-53 lead with 9:37 to go, and the Hawks expanded their advantage to six points with 8:03 remaining. Hilbert maintained a slight edge until Dziabo tied things up with 1:20 to go to set up the game's final moments.
Doyle led the Mounties with 18 points, three assists and three steals. Four other Mounties finished in double figures:
Arin Wade (13), Dziabo (13),
Tanner Thomas (11) and
Dillon Bender (10). Dziabo registered his first double-double of the season with 10 rebounds, while Thomas added nine and Bender grabbed seven boards.
Mount Aloysius shot just 23-for-64 (35.9%) from the floor, but stayed in the game due to a 21-for-30 (70%) showing from the free throw line.
The Mounties drop to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in conference play. They will host La Roche College on Wednesday at 8 p.m. in another AMCC matchup.