The Quinnipiac University men’s basketball team had another positive week as they finished 1-1, but most importantly they gained a spot in theNortheast Conference standings.
“I feel like we are playing well and starting to kick things into gear,” coach Joe DeSantis said. “We went out there and battled Wagner and came back with a win over Sacred Heart.”
The week started with an outstanding home effort verse first place Wagner. The men came into the game riding a three game winning streak and also looking for some revenge on an earlier loss to Wagner.
The Seahawks got out to an early 10 point lead as the Bobcats missed some early lay ups. Quinnipiac survived that though and were able to cut the deficit to five at the half 40-35.
“It was important that we stayed in the game early and not let it get away from us.” DeSantis said. “We got behind by a lot when we were at their place and we couldn’t let that happen again.”
Early in the second half the Bobcats and Wagner traded baskets, but the men were not able to cut into the Seahawk lead. Finally the men were able to get a run going as they ran off 8 straight points and took their first lead 45-44.
After that the Bobcats and Seahawks battled as the score was tied several times until the 6:17 mark when junior forward Rashaun Banjo hit a three giving Quinnipiac a 63-62 lead. With 4:15 left the men had a three point advantage after an Adam Tancredi bucket made it 67-64.
Unfortunately the Bobcats went the next four minutes and seven seconds without a field goal as Wagner immediately came down and hit a shot and followed that up with a steal and a lay up as they regained the lead 68-67.
After that Wagner pushed the lead to as many as five on free throws as Quinnipiac had no answer on offense getting a three pointer from Rob Monroe with four seconds left in the game as their only score in the final 4:15 of the game as they lost 74-70.
“We had chances and didn’t get the job then,” DeSantis said. “I was happy with our effort but we came up a little short today.”
The men then traveled to Sacred Heart as again Quinnipiac tried to avenge an early season disappointing loss. This time there was no stopping the Bobcats.
The men again got off to a slow start as the Pioneers took a 5-0 lead but a torrid 19-0 run by the Bobcats gave them a lead that they would not relinquish. At the half Quinnipiac had an 11 point lead, 36-25.
“We needed a win and we came out and got it,” DeSantis said. “Earlier we let them get out in front big and we didn’t want that to happen again so we knew what we had to do.”
The Bobcats poured it on some more as they built up a 20 point lead before Sacred Heart made the score closer then it was with a late run. In the end though Quinnipiac was victorious 78-69.
The Bobcats were led by junior tri-captain Kason Mims who had 13 points and 10 assist posting his first career double-double. He also added five rebounds and six steals.
Senior tri-captain Jeremy Bishop had 13 points and seven rebounds while sophomore C.J. Vick had 12 points and six rebounds in the contest.
The men now stand at 12-10, 6-7 in the NEC where they are sixth in the conference. The Bobcats next play Long Island University on the road followed with a red hot St. Francis NY team at home on senior night on the 20th which will be their last regular season home game of the season.
