HAMBURG, N.Y. – The Wildcat men's basketball team won their season opener on Friday over the Hilbert Hawks 99-83 in the Hilbert Tip-off Tournament. The Wildcat offense was efficient in the game shooting 62 percent from the field while holding the Hawks to 45 percent from the field.

The Wildcats started hot in the first half, jumping out to a big lead early thanks to efficient offensive play by Josh Gregory (Whitesboro, N.Y.). Gregory had 21 of his game high 30 points in the first half and had a game high five blocks. Gregory shot 61 percent from the field and went 4-6 from three.

The Hawks would battle back to within nine at the half on the back of Jalen Smith who scored a team high 29 points. Smith shot an outstanding 8-12 from behind the arc for the Hawks.  

Tyler Taverne (Westmoreland, N.Y.) had a double-double for the Wildcats in his senior season opener. Taverne had 10 points and a game high 10 rebounds. Tyler shot a perfect 100% on five shots.

Kevin Williams (Brooklyn, N.Y.) had 20 points in the game for the Wildcats. The senior was very efficient and deadly with the mid-range jumper. Williams also had eight rebounds.

In his first game as a Wildcat, Redell Freeman (Rochester, N.Y.) had a team high six assists for the Wildcats to go along with 14 points, five rebounds, and two steals.

Up Next:

With the win in their tournament opener, the Wildcats will face John Carol College in the Championship Game at 3:00 PM on Saturday. John Carol beat Fredonia in their opener on Friday. The game will be played at Hilbert College. The two teams have never faced each other.