WATERBURY, Conn. – It was a day to remember for graduate forwards
Harrison Warnock and
Derrick Thomas II as the duo combined for 34 points on 11-for-15 shooting overall while hitting 3-of-6 threes and 9-of-10 free throws to lead Post University Men's Basketball to their fifth win in program history against Jefferson University, 70-60, in the Drubner Center on Saturday afternoon.
Senior guard
Bol Akot eclipsed 10 points for the eleventh straight game after scoring a team-high 20 points on 4-for-14 shooting and hitting 9-of-10 free throws in the win as the only other Post player with double-digit scoring.
THE BASICS
Post University 70, Jefferson University 60
Post University (11-9, 5-3 CACC)
Jefferson University (10-8, 4-4 CACC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Making up for their poor start last game against Caldwell University, the Eagles were off and running against the Rams to the tune of a perfect 4-for-4 start on the floor leading to a 10-0 lead in the first 2 ½ minutes which forced Jefferson to call their first timeout. Coming out of the huddle, sophomore guard Jeremiah Dorsey kicked off a 7-0 run for the Rams with his three-ball, cutting the deficit down to three over the next two minutes and change.
The Post lead would eventually evaporate completely as following a layup from senior forward
Kyle Alcy which made it a 17-12 game, junior guard Isaiah Thomas-McClain started another run for the Rams to the tune of eight consecutive points. That would give Jefferson their first lead of the game which would top out at three points before the Eagles responded and never relinquished the lead again in the first half.
With the game tied at 24 all, a 5-0 run by Akot alone helped put Post back up by five points and increase their edge to eight points heading into the break, 39-31, as Akot nailed a three with time winding down. The senior would lead the Eagles with 11 points on 3-of-7 shooting while making all three of his three-point attempts and two free throws in a half that Post shot 14-for-26 (53.8%) and made 6-of-13 (46.2%) of their threes.
Junior forward Jordan Hawkins was the high point man for the Rams, going 4-for-4 from the floor with nine points and one made free throw as part of a 12-for-30 (40%) half of shooting overall for Jefferson who made 4-of-12 (33.3%) of their threes. Turnovers came at a premium with Post forcing six which led to seven points while the Rams manufactured just five to the tune of three points.
Despite strong shooting performances from both teams in the first half, the same would not ring true in the second half where neither side could shoot the ball consistently from the floor. For the Rams, they would go 13-for-30 (43.3%) overall but miss all nine threes they took comparably to the Eagles who were just 8-for-25 (32%) from the field and made 2-of-9 (22.2%) threes.
The difference maker would be at the free throw line where Post hit 13-of-14 free throws to give them an 18-for-20 (90%) day overall from the charity stripe while Jefferson had just nine attempts from the line in which they were 6-for-9 (66.7%). Although the Rams cut into their eight-point deficit to start the second half with back-to-back baskets, they would never be able to tie nor take the lead the rest of the way as the Eagles answered back and clamped down on defense each time.
With senior guard Ashton Miller's jumper making it a two-point game, 41-39, Warnock went to work offensively, converting on back-to-back three-point plays followed by an Akot layup as part of an 8-0 run that tied Post for their largest lead of the game at 10 points, 49-39. The Eagles would only be threatened once more down the stretch when Dorsey's jumper with 7:42 left in regulation was the start of a 6-0 run by the Rams which cut their deficit down to five points, 55-50, with just under six minutes remaining.
Answering back once again was Warnock with a deep three and sophomore guard
Ta'Quan Williams with a jumper as that 5-0 run by Post would prove to be the dagger and the lead swelled to a game-high 15 points with 27 seconds left en route to the 10-point victory, 70-60.
BY THE NUMBERS 