Hawks’ defense struggles in second half of season-opening loss to Yellowjackets

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. — A five-point halftime edge was gone five minutes into the second half, and the Quincy University men’s basketball team’s defense never buckled down enough to regain any edge.

Cedarville went on a 12-2 run early in the second half and shot 58 percent from the field over the final 20 minutes to score an 83-69 victory Friday in the GLVC/G-MAC Crossover Challenge at Truman State University’s Pershing Arena.

Quincy (0-1) will try to rebound at 12:15 p.m. Saturday against Findlay.

The Hawks never trailed in the first half, shooting 55.6 percent from the field and 40 percent from the field. Zion Richardson’s 3-pointer with 42 seconds left in the half allowed them to go to the locker room with a 37-32 lead.

Richardson scored in the paint three minutes into the second half to maintain a 39-34 lead before the Yellowjackets went on their 12-2 run.

A layin by Richardson and an Orlando Thomas jumper with 13:49 to play pulled Quincy within 46-45, but Cedarville answered by extending its lead to 57-49 by the 10-minute mark. The advantage grew to as many as 15 points.

Cedarville shot 47.6 percent from the field overall and 40 percent from 3-point range, making 14 treys. Meanwhile, Quincy shot just 30.3 percent from the field in the second half and 25 percent from 3-point range overall, going 6 of 24 total and 0 of 9 in the second half.

The Hawks only forced seven turnovers.

Richardson and Isaiah Foster led Quincy with 15 points apiece, while Nate Shockey had 13 points off the bench and Mason Wujek had 11 points and six rebounds.