HOUSTON --- Just another night in Sharp Gym.
Houston Christian University rallied from a double-digit first half deficit and eventually raced past the University of New Orleans down the stretch for a wild 88-80 victory on Monday night. A first half that UNO led the entire way turned into a second half with 11 lead changes, and the Huskies saw their own eight-point lead evaporate before a finishing kick over the final 4:32 that pushed them to their second straight victory.
Two three-pointers from Khaleb Wilson-Rouse started a game-opening 16-7 run over the first eight minutes for the Privateers. The lead would grow to 20-10 after a Jah Short layup in the paint at the 10:35 mark. The Huskies would then go on a spurt of their own, pulling to within two points on a jumper by Michael Imariagbe that made the score 23-21 with just under seven to play in the half.
The two teams would then trade buckets for the next couple of minutes before a short jumper by Jordan Johnson gave UNO a four-point advantage just before the final media of the first frame. The lead would grow to seven with 2:59 on the clock as Wilson-Rouse connected from deep again. HCU answered on a driving layup by
Jay Alvarez and then a brotherly connection by the Bazil boys inched the Huskies to within four at the break, 38-34.
HCU opened the second half with purpose.
Dominic Capriotti nailed a three-ball to start a 10-2 run with Alvarez finishing it on a layup in the paint, and the Huskies held a four-point lead just two minutes into the second half. A few moments later, the lead would grow to eight on a strong move by
Bonke Maring, who rolled across the lane into a short hook off the glass to give HCU a 52-44 advantage.
The lead would grow to 10 shortly after as it was the Bazil boys again, with
Porter Bazil getting a block on one end and
Pierce Bazil the finish on the other. The Privateers roared back, getting 10 points from Johnson as part of a 12-2 run that knotted the game at 60 apiece with 8:54 to go. He wouldn't stop there, scoring 10 more points over the next four minutes to give UNO a 72-71 lead with four and half minutes to play.
Marcus Greene then seemingly had flashbacks of Saturday's action. Held in check most of the evening, Greene would score 13 points over a three-minute span, a spurt that included three straight three-pointers, the final coming from nearly the same spot of his game-winner two days prior. His efforts aided a 13-4 burst that gave HCU an 84-76 lead with 1:29 to go in the game, and the Huskies hit four free throws in the final 23 seconds to seal the deal. HCU ended the game on a 17-8 run following UNO taking its final lead at the 4:32 mark.
One game after their best overall offensive effort of the season, the Huskies turned it up another notch. HCU registered its best shooting night from the field and three-point line, hitting a robust 58.5% from the floor, and an efficient 7-11 from the arc for 63.6%. HCU also canned 19-27 from the free-throw line for 70.4% and outrebounded UNO 41-35.
Greene and
Pierce Bazil led a quintet of players in double-figures for the Huskies with 18 points each. Greene went 3-3 from the arc, while Bazil turned in his best shooting night of the season, going 7-12 overall and 3-5 from long range.
Michael Imariagbe had his second straight double-double and seventh of the season, getting 16 points and 10 rebounds as well as three assists.
Jay Alvarez had 15 points, four boards and three rebounds, while
Bonke Maring chipped in 12 points, six caroms and three assists.
Porter Bazil had four points, six rebounds and career-high four blocked shots for the Huskies.
Jordan Johnson led all scorers with 35 points on a 13-33 effort from the floor. He hit 4-10 from the arc and also had five boards and three assists. Wilson-Rouse was the only other UNO player in double-digits, as he had 22 points and six boards for the Privateers, who lost their third straight to fall to 7-12 overall and 2-4 in the Southland.
The Huskies are now 5-12 overall and even their conference mark at 3-3 on the season. HCU returns to action this Saturday when it travels down I-10 to San Antonio to face the University of the Incarnate Word. Tip-off at the McDermott Center is scheduled for 5 pm as the back-end of a doubleheader with the women.
#DawgsUp
