Buffalo, NY - The D'Youville Men's Basketball team lost a hard-fought battle against the Hilbert Hawks on Wednesday, February 5 by the final score 72-86.  

D'Youville got on the board first with two foul shots made by Noah Denz (East Aurora, NY/East Aurora) just over ten seconds into the game.  Hilbert would then get the ball rolling on offense as they scored 10 of the next 12 points to lead the Spartans 10-4.  The Hawks would continue to keep their multiple possession lead as the half went on, establishing a seven point lead at 20-13. 

Back-to-back jumpers made by Latrell Butler (Olean, NY/Olean) and Simeon Heard (Rochester, NY/Charles Finney), followed by an and one by Devon Darrell (Lockport, NY/Lockport) put the Spartans down by one point down at 19-20 with 9:50 left in the first.  As the half went on, Hilbert would pull away until the final two minutes of play. Trailing by 11, Brian Sharp (Newark, NY/Newark) hit back-to-back threes to trim the team's deficit to six as they trailed 36-41 at the half.

Hilbert was the team to score first starting the second half as they reestablished their double-figure lead within the first minute.  Down 63-43 with just under 12 minutes to go, D'Youville would slowly chip away at their deficit.  

An and-one made by Denz, plus three free throws and a layup made by Torree Cheatham (Lockport, NY/Lockport) would put the Spartans within twelve with six and a half left in the game.  However, D'Youville was unable to bring their deficit back down to single digits as they fell to the Hawks 72-86.

The Spartans shot 80% from the free throw line, going 16 for 20.  Denz had a career game in the loss for D'Youville as he led the team with a career-high 24 points. He added a career high five blocks and tied a career high with seven rebounds.

Darrell added 12 points, four assists, three steals and two rebounds.  Will Saunders (Cleveland, OH/Euclid) also grabbed ten of his own points and five rebounds.  Sharp contributed nine points while Cheatham scored seven.

The next for the game men will come at home in their final game of their current three-game homestand as they host the Alfred State Pioneers next Wednesday, February 12 at 6:00pm in the College Center Gym.