Hawks Fall to Berea

Montgomery, Alabama – The Hawks, now 1-20 overall and 0-9 in the CCS fell to the Mountaineers (12-9, 4-4) in a close contest 74-68.

Huntingdon began the game strong holding the lead for the first seven minutes. A Berea 7-0 run gained them the lead but only for the next two minutes as the freshmen pair, Rashawn Knox and Myles Murphy drained back-to-back threes (12-10). The Mountaineers quickly tied the game and exchanges of baskets for the next two minutes left the score within four points. Sophomore Nate Johns claimed the next 11-points for the Hawks as he single-handedly took over, scoring three 3-pointers in two minutes to lift the Hawks up by 5 (25-20). Four free-throws by the Mountaineers brought the game back within one with four minutes to go in the half. More consecutives threes from the Hawks again put them back on top (34-30). The fight came alive in the last 35 seconds of the first half as Berea tied the game at 34 with a made layup and the Hawks converted off a Mountaineers foul to sink two at the free-throw line and hold the lead at halftime (36-34).

Key First Half Stats:

Nate Johns had 15 points going 4-6 from the three

Rashawn Knox went 2-2 from three and added seven points

The Hawks hit a season high, 7 threes in the first half shooting 43%

Johns continued his scoring run as he cliched the first six points of the second half, one included his fifth three of the night (42-34). Berea was able to catch back up and regain the lead before the 14-minute mark (47-46). Johns, making his sixth and final three of the night with 13-minutes left in the game tied it at 49. A Mountaineers run of 5-0 in the next three minutes put them back on top (54-49). Berea started to pull away with made free-throws and growing a lead as large as 10. Daquan Hawkins was finally able to tie the game with two minutes remaining after sinking a free-throw (68-68), but the next possession Berea hit a three that gave them enough separation to finish the game.

Key Game Stats:

Berea converted 12 points off of Huntingdon's 11 turnovers

The Hawks shot 32% from the field while Berea shot 45%

Huntingdon hit 6 more three's than the Mountaineers and outrebounded them by 13

Stat Leaders for Huntingdon:

#3 Nate Johns – 26 Points, 9 Rebounds

#2 Max Gardner – 10 Points, 3 Rebounds

#1 DaQuan Hawkins – 8 Points, 3 Rebounds

The Hawks are back in action in Roland Arena tomorrow February 4^th against Maryville College at 4:00 PM CST.