New York, N.Y. - Hunter College men's basketball pulled out an exciting win on Saturday afternoon, defeating non-conference opponent Neumann University with a score of 80-77.

The Hawks improved their record to 10-11, while the Knights dropped to 16-5 this season.

All five starters scored in double-digits for the Hawks, as Matt Franks led the squad with 22 points and crucial free throws at the end of the game.

Hunter started the game on a streak, jumping out to a 17-7 lead in the first nine minutes, led by six points from Franks. The Knights scored four points, but three-pointers from Matt Stroud and George Keener, plus a jumper from Melvin Collins put the Hawks back up by 14.

Neumann's shooting got hot in the last seven minutes of the half, helping them gain the lead and go into halftime up 43-40.

Hunter's Keener hit a shot from behind the arc to open a second half that would feature seven tied scores and 11 lead changes. The Knights took the advantage at the 12:22 minute mark and held onto it until Gio Gabbidon tied the score and Franks made a three-pointer to go up by one point with 5:44 to play.

Franks followed that play up by converting on a three-point play and Amer Lukac scored two points to make the score 72-68 with four minutes on the clock. Neumann took back the lead at 2:44 but Franks went four-for-four from the free throw line over the next minute.

The Knights were forced to foul, allowing Stroud to hit two free throws with 22 seconds left to close out the Hunter victory.

Franks led the squad with his 22 points, followed by 13 from Keener. Lukac recorded the only double-double and his eighth of the season by scoring 12 points and grabbing 13 boards. Danny Fusco and Gabbidon tallied ten points each to help the Hawks get the win.

The Purple and Gold return to action on February 6 when they travel to the College of Staten Island for a 7:30 p.m. game.