Defensive breakdown late in second half costs Hawks shot at season-opening victory

CEDARVILLE, Ohio — The combination of high-level 3-point shooting and solid perimeter defense put the Quincy University men’s basketball team in position to win Steve Hawkins’ second debut as the head coach.

Then the defense rested a little too much.

Findlay went on a 25-9 run over a 7-minute, 34-second span late in the second half, turning a nine-point deficit into a seven-point advantage that carried the Oilers to a 96-87 victory in the GMAC/GLVC Challenge on Friday at the Callan Athletic Center on the Cedarville University campus.

After making 10 of 25 3-point attempts through the game’s first 32 minutes, the Oilers buried 4 of 5 treys during its pivotal run and went 8 of 11 from the field in that stretch. Findlay also made 6 of 6 free throws during that time, went 12 of 12 over the final eight minutes and 16 of 17 from the line overall.

Had it not been for the defensive breakdowns late, the Hawks might have knocked off a team that had qualified for the NCAA Division II national tournament four of the previous six seasons.

Quincy shot 55 percent from the field overall and 55 percent from 3-point range, going 5 of 6 from beyond the arc in the first half and 6 of 14 in the second half. The Hawks had 12 assists against 13 turnovers, but outrebounded the Oilers 30-28.

The mistakes offensively over the final eight minutes proved detrimental. The Hawks went 1 for 8 from the field over a seven-minute span and were 3 of 11 during the overall closing stretch. They also had three turnovers, two of which were sandwiched around a 3-pointer by the Oilers’ Khalil Luster that gave Findlay the lead for good.

Malik Hardmon led four Hawks in double figures with 21 points and six rebounds, while Jamaurie Coakley had 18 points, six rebounds and four assists. Connor Davis had 12 points off the bench, knocking down three 3-pointers.

The Hawks wrap up the GMAC/GLVC Challenge against Cedarville at 3:15 p.m. Saturday. The Yellowjackets beat Truman State 79-51.