David Howard and Josh Watson scored 13 points each to lead University to a 44-40 win over Greenwood Christian.
The Trialblazers led for the last 25 minutes of the game, yet never held more than a five point lead in the second half. An 8-for-10 performance at the foul line in the fourth quarter and some strong defense down the stretch allowed University to improve to 19-2 on the season.
The win was the second in ten days for University at Greenwood Christian. The Trailblazers won the PAAC Championship game over the Cougars February 10 by a 64-46 count. This contest was much closer. “It is tough to beat a really good team twice on the road,” said University coach Brandon Lafferman. “Our guys did a great job in the last four minutes, stepping it up on the defensive end.” Greenwood Christian made just one field goal in the final 6:30 of the game.
University jumped to an early 7-2 lead and had three possessions to extend the lead, but a pair of turnovers allowed the Cougars to hang close before going on a 10-2 run. The Trailblazers closed out the first quarter strong. Howard drove the lane for a basket before Zack Hodgin went coast to coast for his only field goal of the game to give the Blazers the lead for good at 13-12 with 1:04 remaining in the quarter. Ethan Sickels hit a transition three pointers off a Sam Mervis assist and University led 16-13 at the end of the quarter.
Josh Watson opened the second quarter scoring with a two handed dunk and scored seven of the Blazers nine points in the period. University held their largest lead of the game at 25-16 midway through the second quarter before Greenwood Christian scored the last six points of the half.
After a GCA basket to open the third, a Foster Flamion basket with 6:12 remaining ended a nearly six-minute scoreless streak for University. Watson added two third quarter baskets and Howard added a free throw as the Blazers maintained a three-point edge at the end of the quarter, 32-29.
Howard scored twice in the paint early in the fourth quarter, including what turned out to be University’s last field goal of the game with 6:29 remaining. Howard and Hodgin went three for four at the line in the fourth quarter while Mervis made both his foul shots.
Howard added 13 points for a double-double.
University will close the regular season Thursday night against Indianapolis Lighthouse East. It will be senior night at The U Center as the Trailblazers honor Howard, Sickels, Flamion, Watson and Hodgin, their five senior starters.
University 44, Greenwood Christian 40
University FG FT TP PF
David Howard 4 4-6 13 2
Ethan Sickels 2 0-0 5 1
Foster Flamion 2 0-0 4 3
Josh Watson 5 2-2 13 0
Zack Hodgin 1 3-4 5 4
Sam Mervis 1 2-2 4 1
Eric Major 0 0-0 0 1
Quinn Steiner 0 0-0 0 1
Max Greenamoyer 0 0-0 0 0
Eyal Friedman 0 0-0 0 2
Totals 15 11-14 44 15
Score by Quarters
University 16 9 7 12 – 44
Greenwood Christian 13 9 7 11 – 40
University 3-pointers (3) Howard, Sickels, Watson.