Hawks head home for holidays with Christmas cheer, three-game win streak and tourney title

QUINCY — The getaway game never got away from the Quincy University men’s basketball team.

That should make for a Merry Christmas for all.

In the Hawks’ final game before heading home for the holiday break, they held Wayne State to 28-percent shooting from the field in the second half of a 66-55 victory Sunday in the Hansen-Spear Holiday Classic at Pepsi Arena.

It gives the Hawks three consecutive victories, a 7-5 record and a tournament championship to carry into Christmas. Quincy doesn’t play again until a trip to Rockhurst for a Great Lakes Valley Conference matchup January 3.

“It’s a Merry Christmas,” QU senior guard Zion Richardson said. “A very Merry Christmas.”

QU coach Steve Hawkins worried it wouldn’t be.

He called the week of preparation “disjointed” because of the practice schedule and the Hawks’ lack of energy at times. In fact, he kicked the team out of practice Friday because of their lackluster effort.

“Coaches worry about these games because they call them the getaway games right before the break,” Hawkins said. “Do people have one foot out the door thinking about their Christmas plans? You have to be careful.”

Although the Hawks trailed 36-33 at halftime, the energy was good. All it took was a few adjustments defensively to turn the tide.

Wayne State made two field goals in the first 95 seconds of the second half, but only one the seven minutes. A 5-minute stretch in which the Warriors scored only two points allowed the Hawks to go from tailing 46-45 with 10 minutes to play to leading 59-48 following a Mason Wujek layin with 4:57 to play.

Senior guard Nate Shockey hit back-to-back 3-pointers during that stretch to give the Hawks some needed separation.

“Defense has been the biggest thing we’ve talked about all year,” Shockey said. “We just need to get better defensively, better defensively. In the second half, we really brought that.”

The Warriors went 6 of 21 from the field and 2 of 10 from 3-point range in the second half, corralled just four offensive rebounds and turned the ball over 12 times.

“Just settling down,” Richardson said of the improved second half play. “Analyzing the game and making adjustments. The first half, we were just letting the bullets fly and trading baskets. We weren;’t really controlling our own tempo or controlling their tempo. I thought when we came out in the second half we were able to adjust and get comfortable with our system and what we wanted to do.”

The Hawks kept the Warriors off the boards, too. Quincy owned a 32-29 overall rebounding edge, but Wayne State managed just eight second-chance points overall, compared to 23 for Quincy.

“There was a lot more energy,” Hawkins said. “There was a lot more want-to when it came to winning today.”

That’s because they wanted a sweet reward.

Before the weekend began, assistant coach Pat Richardson put a picture of Sour Patch Kids candy on the board in the locker room.

“He said, ‘We can either end this on a sour note or on a sweet note,’” Zion Richardson said. “Of course, everyone wants to end on a sweet note going into the new year. This was very important to get us the momentum we need going into conference play.”

Richardson, who was named the tournament MVP, scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Shockey added 15 points. They combined to go 7 of 12 from 3-point range as the Hawks shot 42.9 percent (9 of 21) from 3-point range.

“The way we won was as important to me as the win itself,” Hawkins said.

It ensured everyone got away with a smile.

“It’s going to make Christmas break better for everyone,” Hawkins said.