Strong second-half defensive effort lifts QU men’s basketball team to first road victory

PITTSBURG, Kan. — The Quincy University men’s basketball team’s offense is going to give the defense time to find its way.

In the second half Friday night, that seemed to happen.

An 11-point halftime lead ballooned to as many as 29 points as the Hawks put the clamps on Pittsburg State, limiting the Gorillas to 22 second-half points and rolling to an 82-58 victory in the Pitt State Thanksgiving Classic at John Lance Arena.

The Gorillas shot just 29.2 percent from the field over the final 20 minutes, going 2 of 10 from 3-point range. Overall, Pittsburg State went 5 of 20 from 3-point range and committed 16 turnovers against just nine assists.

Meanwhile, the Hawks showed continued growth offensively, scoring 47 points in the first half and shooting 43.3 percent from 3-point range overall.

Quincy systematically extended its lead throughout the first half, watching it reach 13 points when freshman guard Isaiah Foster nailed a 3-pointer with 25 seconds remaining. Pittsburg State scored the final basket of the first half, but it provided little momentum.

The Hawks opened the second half with a 10-2 run.

Paul Zilinskas led Quincy with 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting with three rebounds and three assists. Foster went 5 of 7 from 3-point range and scored 15 points, while Malik Hardmon and Jamaurie Coakley scored 12 points apiece.

Quincy (2-2) will face Missouri Southern at 5:30 p.m. Saturday before having a week to prepare for the Great Lakes Valley Conference opener against Indianapolis.