Camacho's 20 Leads Highlanders in Loss to Hilbert
HOUGHTON, N.Y. -- The Highlanders slipped to 0-3 on the season after a 73-56 loss to Hilbert in the men's basketball home opener Wednesday.
Leading the way for Houghton was sophomore
Brandon Camacho (Dundee, NY, Dundee High School), who poured in a career-high 20 points and pulled down six rebounds on the night.
The teams traded buckets early on, but it was the Hawks who gained momentum as the half progressed. The visitors used an 11-0 run to turn an 8-6 deficit into a 17-8 lead at the 12:49 mark. The Highlanders were able to pull within four before the Hawks scored six-straight to stretch the lead to 23-13. A short run by the Highlanders made the deficit 30-24 at the half.
Neither team shot well in the opening 20 minutes, with each converting just 32 percent of their field goal attempts. Houghton made the most of the missed shots, holding a 25-15 rebounding edge at the break, including 11 on the offensive end.
The second half continued to see-saw, but the Hawks again were the first to swing the momentum in their favor. With the lead still at six (43-37) at the 12:48 mark, Hilbert tore off a 13-1 run over the next five minutes to push the lead to 18. Houghton would get no closer than 12 the rest of the way.
Aside from Camacho's career night,
Tyler McQuaid (Lowman, NY, Twin Tiers Christian Academy) and
Brennen Campbell (Perry, NY, Perry Central) each chipped in with nine points. McQuaid added a team-high seven rebounds.
Michael Bova (Westfield, NY, Westfield Central) contributed seven points and five rebounds off the bench.
Houghton shot 32 percent from the field, while the Hawks converted on 37 percent of their shots. The Highlanders outrebounded the Hawks, 44-35.
Houghton (0-3) is back in action at home on Saturday, Nov. 23 vs. Roberts Wesleyan at 8 p.m.