Hawks withstand Cardinals’ late surge, finish pre-Christmas slate above .500
QUINCY — Some opponents just won’t go away.
The Quincy University men’s basketball team is learning how to make them.
Sunday’s 82-70 victory over Saginaw Valley State in the final game of the Hansen-Spear Holiday Classic is a prime example. What seemed like a comfortable 18-point lead with eight minutes remaining in regulation dwindled to an eight-point advantage with a little less than three minutes to go.
But the Hawks made 4 of 6 free throws in the final two minutes and didn’t allow the Cardinals to score on their final three possessions to head into the Christmas break with back-to-back victories and some good vibes.
“We want to use these games to deal with pressure and situations like that and make us better prepared for our conference games,” QU junior guard Camren Kincaid said.
If nothing else, the Hawks know they can dig in and withstand a run.
“We handled it well and settled down when we needed to,” sophomore guard Jake Hamilton said. “When we weren’t handling it well, we came together and dealt with it. It was a good sign.”
It was a different challenge than the Hawks (6-5) had faced in their other victories. They rallied against Missouri Southern, went toe-to-toe most of the second half with Central Missouri and won the other three in blowout fashion.
This time, Saginaw Valley State threw everything at them down the stretch.
“That happens and everyone gets a little tighter and it’s like, ‘Oh, no, we can’t. Oh, no. Oh, no,’ instead of expecting to figure it out,” QU coach Brad Hoyt said. “You have to figure some of those out before you can expect to do so. I think this was big moving forward.
“We can be like, ‘We’ve been in this situation before. Three passes from a layup. Get to the right spots. Execute.’ You have to remember you’re not going to run away from anyone without a little fight in them. It’s not going to happen. Our guys withstood it and fought their way through it.”
Everyone had a hand in it.
Four players finished in double figures, led by freshman sharpshooter Max Booher with 18 points as he went 4 of 7 from 3-point range and junior guard El Sieger with 17. The Hawks dished out 19 assists against just 11 turnovers with Kincaid responsible for eight assists. And they limited the Cardinals to 37-percent shooting from the field.
“I really just try to get downhill and find my teammates,” said Kincaid, who also had eight points and eight rebounds. “We have shooters and we have a lot of good slashers, too. They know when I’m getting downhill I can score it, but they know I’m also looking for them, too. We work well together.”
Their communication is improving, too, especially in tough situations.
“On the court, you see us get together in a huddle,” said Hamilton, who had 16 points and six rebounds. “It’s quick, but we’re saying important stuff. That’s to get us on the same page.”
It has the Hawks playing with confidence as they head into the new year, which kicks off at home Jan. 3 against Lincoln.
“All of it was a good little bow to put on it before we head into break,” Hoyt said.
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