DIV 3

Devils win tight battle with Hilbert, 79-76

FREDONIA, N.Y. — Fredonia State and Hilbert engaged in a fast-paced, back and forth contest on Wednesday, with the Devils claiming a 79-76 victory in the end. The game featured 10 lead changes and 12 ties as both teams entertained another raucous crowd in Steele Hall. Malik Jemison drove the offense, scoring 16 points and dishing out six assists. Tyrese Fuller and Derek Reed each added 12, and Keenan Roberts Jr. tacked on 10. Reed also had four assists.

The first half set the tone for the entire game with four lead changes and five ties. The Devils held a 36-34 lead at the half. Fuller led the Devils with nine points at the turn and Quran Briggs had 12 for Hilbert.

The furious pace continued in the second stanza. The Devils — who went 1-8 in threes in the first half — made a couple of early treys on as they found their touch, going 4-7 on deepballs in the deciding half. 

The Devils ultimately used free throws to capture the win. Up 75-74 with 24.7 seconds left, Isaiah Youngquist connected on both free throws. After a basket by Hilbert made it a one-point game, Jemison was fouled and made one of two from the stripe.

Hibert's Shaheem Ellis had a chance to tie in the closing seconds, but missed the first of two free throws. He intentionally missed the second. Fredonia State's Alon Haimovitz ended up with the ball and was fouled with a half second on the clock. He nailed the second of two free throws to give the 79-76 final score.  The Devils scored six of their final eight points covering the game's final two minutes from the charity stripe.

Hilbert (1-2) got 23 points from Briggs and 15 from Jahmal Demery. Edward Perez and Eric Jackson each had 10 points. 

The Devils, who played a barn burner the night before on the road at Penn State Behrend, improved to 2-2. They travel to Pitt-Bradford next Tuesday.