Dynamic defensive effort carries resurgent QU men to victory over Southwest Baptist

QUINCY — In times of struggle, there is some confidence gained.

The Quincy University men’s basketball team displayed that Thursday night.

Instead of reeling from a heartbreaking 73-72 loss to 16th-ranked Truman State on Tuesday night, the Hawks out-toughed a high-scoring Southwest Baptist University squad Thursday night for a potentially season-defining 73-69 Great Lakes Valley Conference victory at Pepsi Arena.

The Bearcats had won nine of their first 10 games and were riding a seven-game winning streak, largely due to their efficient offense. They ranked first in the GLVC in scoring (85.4 points per game), scoring margin (plus-19.7) and field-goal percentage (.512). SBU also was in the top three in 3-point percentage (.409).

The Hawks limited them to 20-percent shooting from the perimeter (4 of 20) and their lowest scoring output of the season.

“I thought we played with great confidence, great resiliency,” QU head coach Ryan Hellenthal said. “The character and toughness of our kids showed. I thought our three-point defense is where it started.”

Aside from a 9-3 Bearcats start, the Hawks controlled the tempo of the first half behind senior guard Jamauire Coakley, who provided eight points and dished out three assists over the first 20 minutes. Jalen Stamps punctuated a 31-25 halftime lead by beating the first-half buzzer with a 3-pointer.

The Hawks (9-6, 2-3 GLVC) relied heavily on the bench, getting 25 first-half points from the reserves.

Better yet, Quincy stuck to the game plan of closing out on SBU’s perimeter shooters and applying uncomfortable amounts of pressure early.

Hellenthal believes the Hawks pressured the ball much better than they did against Truman State.

“Even though I thought we controlled that game, at times I thought Truman was still too comfortable,” Hellenthal said. “I don’t think we ever allowed Southwest Baptist to get into rhythm tonight, and that was our goal.”

SBU rallied a 7-0 run with 10 minutes to go in the second half during a stretch in which QU missed four straight free throws to cut the deficit to 49-48.

But the Hawks never surrendered the lead. Senior guard Charles Callier forced a turnover and hit two huge threes down the stretch, one dropping with 1:50 remaining to increase the Hawks’ advantage to 65-61.

“That’s what he brings to us,” Hellenthal said. “He brings us another dimension as a guy who can make shots and score it. As he gets his legs back under him it’s going to continue to get better.”

Callier, who has played in only nine games this season due to injury and illness, scored eight points in 13 minutes.

“I just wanted to win,” Callier said. “Doing whatever it takes to get the win.”

Coakley led the Hawks with 13 points, while Mark Bradshaw Jr. and Silas Crisler had 10 points apiece. RJ Crawford led the Bearcats with 17 points.

Quincy will wrap up a four-games-in-seven-days stretch with Saturday’s trip to William Jewell in Liberty, Mo.