Late-game struggles lead to another tough loss for QU men’s basketball team

CEDARVILLE, Ohio — A number of the things the Quincy University men’s basketball players have done during the first 35 minutes of back-to-back season-opening games will make this group successful in the long run.

What took place down the stretch needs to change.

Friday night, the Hawks squandered an 11-point lead with nine minutes to play in a nine-point loss to Findlay. Saturday afternoon, Quincy led by seven points with four minutes remaining in regulation before Cedarville rallied to force overtime and outlasted the Hawks for an 86-85 victory in the GMAC/GLVC Challenge at the Callan Athletic Center.

The Hawks went ahead 71-64 with 4:04 to go on Isaiah Foster’s 3-pointer, but they allowed an offensive rebound on Cedarville’s ensuing possession and the Yellowjackets made two free throws to kickstart their rally.

Over the final four minutes, Cedarville went 2 of 4 from the field, 4 of 6 from the line and snared three defensive rebounds. Meanwhile, Quincy went 1 of 9 from the field, failed to convert on three offensive rebounds, didn’t get to the foul line and missed a pair of 3-point attempts.

In overtime, the Hawks went 3 of 8 from the field, meaning they shot just 23.5 percent in the final nine minutes of game action.

The Yellowjackets shot 55.6 percent in the same stretch.

Cedarville’s Grant Whisman buried a 3-pointer on the opening possession of overtime, and the Yellowjackets pushed the lead to five points on Jayvon Maughmer’s two free throws. Quincy twice rallied to tie the game, the last time at 80 on Solomon Gustafson’s two free throws with two minutes remaining.

The Yellowjackets’ Tytist Dean answered with a 3-pointer, and they made 3 of 4 free throws down the stretch.

Paul Zilinskas led the Hawks with 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Foster had 18 points. They each made three 3-pointers. Gustafson finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds, 10 of which were offensive.